A Heat Advisory is in effect from 10 a.m. through Thursday evening across parts of Colorado. A First Alert Weather Day has been issued due to the extreme heat.  In the high country, gusty winds up to 40 mph combined with low humidity are creating critical fire weather conditions.

Wildfire smoke can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath — even for healthy people. It has been associated with lung damage in children, older adults, and people with preexisting respiratory or cardiovascular disease.

Dangerous fire conditions, soaring temperatures and smoky skies across Colorado prompted severe weather alerts for parts of the Western Slope, Front Range and Eastern Plains on Wednesday.