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National Weather ServiceColoradoRed Flag WarningArchive to October 11, 2026

Red Flag Warnings in Colorado

The National Weather Service issued 129 red flag warnings for Colorado in 2025 and 124 a year on average in 2008-2025; in 2021-2025 it had the 2nd most of any state. 2026 through September: 210, 100% above the average of 105 for those months in 2008-2025. Huerfano County (including Walsenburg) was covered most often (586 times since 2008).

How many red flag warnings does Colorado get?

129 red flag warnings for Colorado in 2025
1002003002008: 10320082009: 5820092010: 11220102011: 16620112012: 17820122013: 9820132014: 8320142015: 6620152016: 10620162017: 11620172018: 16020182019: 8420192020: 20820202021: 14620212022: 19120222023: 11420232024: 11620242025: 12920252026: 21020262008-2025 average 1242026 through September: 2101002003002008: 10320082009: 582010: 11220102011: 1662012: 17820122013: 982014: 8320142015: 662016: 10620162017: 1162018: 16020182019: 842020: 20820202021: 1462022: 19120222023: 1142024: 11620242025: 1292026: 21020262008-2025 average 1242026 through September: 2101002003002008: 10320082009: 582010: 11220102011: 1662012: 17820122013: 982014: 8320142015: 662016: 10620162017: 1162018: 16020182019: 842020: 20820202021: 1462022: 19120222023: 1142024: 11620242025: 1292026: 21020262008-2025 average 1242026 through September: 2101002003002008: 10320082009: 582010: 1122011: 1662012: 1782013: 982014: 832015: 6620152016: 1062017: 1162018: 1602019: 842020: 20820202021: 1462022: 1912023: 1142024: 1162025: 1292026: 21020262008-2025 average 1242026 through September: 210

Every red flag warning that covered part of Colorado. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.

The numbers
YearCount
2026 (through September)210
2025129
2024116
2023114
2022191
2021146
2020208
201984
2018160
2017116
2016106
201566
201483
201398
2012178
2011166
2010112
200958
2008103

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 11, 2026.

When in the year does Colorado get them?

Colorado's red flag warnings by month, 2008-2025
200400600Jan: 30JanFeb: 119FebMar: 322MarApr: 439AprMay: 316MayJun: 335JunJul: 91JulAug: 111AugSep: 123SepOct: 192OctNov: 97NovDec: 59Dec439200400600Jan: 30JanFeb: 119FebMar: 322MarApr: 439AprMay: 316MayJun: 335JunJul: 91JulAug: 111AugSep: 123SepOct: 192OctNov: 97NovDec: 59Dec439200400600Jan: 30JanFeb: 119FebMar: 322MarApr: 439AprMay: 316MayJun: 335JunJul: 91JulAug: 111AugSep: 123SepOct: 192OctNov: 97NovDec: 59Dec439200400600Jan: 30JFeb: 119FMar: 322MApr: 439AMay: 316MJun: 335JJul: 91JAug: 111ASep: 123SOct: 192ONov: 97NDec: 59D439

Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 11, 2026.

Where in Colorado?

County or forecast zoneSince 2008Since 2023Last issued
Huerfano County (including Walsenburg)586148July 3, 2026
Western Las Animas County (including Trinidad and Thatcher)585141July 3, 2026
Pueblo County (including Pueblo)527127August 7, 2026
Eastern Las Animas County (including Pinon Canyon)519109July 1, 2026
Southern El Paso County (including Fort Carson and Colorado Springs)492100July 3, 2026
San Luis Valley (including Alamosa/Del Norte/Fort Garland/Saguache)445111July 3, 2026
Baca County (including Springfield and Eastern Comanche Grasslands)43993June 29, 2026
Fremont County (including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek)42988August 7, 2026
Otero County (including La Junta and Western Comanche Grasslands)41588June 30, 2026
Kit Carson County39471June 10, 2026
Crowley County (including Ordway)39383June 30, 2026
Cheyenne39075June 10, 2026

The NWS issues these products for counties or forecast zones; a zone can be part of a county or a mountain range.

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 11, 2026.

The latest red flag warnings for Colorado in AreaZine's record

This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.

Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).

Every red flag warning for Colorado in AreaZine's record

277 notices in AreaZine's record; the latest first below. Every one, oldest first: April 9, 2026 to August 6, 2026.

  1. Red Flag Warning: Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek and Pueblo County Including Pueblo, CO Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek and Pueblo County Including Pueblo expired
  2. Red Flag Warning: North Fork and Gunnison Basin, CO North Fork and Gunnison Basin expired
  3. Red Flag Warning: Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee County, CO Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee County expired
  4. Red Flag Warning: Eastern San Juan Mountains and La Garita Mountains Including Wolf Creek Pass and Creede, CO Eastern San Juan Mountains and La Garita Mountains Including Wolf Creek Pass and Creede expired
  5. Red Flag Warning: Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee County, CO Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee County expired
  6. Red Flag Warning: South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above 9000 Feet, Central and Southeast Park County, West Jackson a South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above 9000 Feet, Central and Southeast Park County, West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet and 1 more expired
  7. Red Flag Warning: Jackson County Below 9000 Feet and Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet, CO and WY Jackson County Below 9000 Feet and Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet expired
  8. Red Flag Warning: Gunnison Basin, CO Gunnison Basin expired
  9. Red Flag Warning: Colorado River Headwaters, CO Colorado River Headwaters expired
  10. Red Flag Warning: Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area, CO Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area expired
  11. Red Flag Warning: Routt, White River and Colorado River Headwaters, CO Routt, White River and Colorado River Headwaters expired
  12. Red Flag Warning: Jackson County Below 9000 Feet and Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet, CO and WY Jackson County Below 9000 Feet and Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet expired
  13. Red Flag Warning: Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area and Southeast Utah, CO and UT Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area and Southeast Utah expired
  14. Red Flag Warning: Central and Southeast Park County, CO Central and Southeast Park County expired
  15. Red Flag Warning: Central and Southeast Park County, CO Central and Southeast Park County expired
  16. Red Flag Warning: Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area, Paradox Valley, Northern San Juan and 3 more, CO Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area, Paradox Valley, Northern San Juan and 3 more expired
  17. Red Flag Warning: Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee County, Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Fremont County In Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee County, Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek and 4 more expired
  18. Red Flag Warning: Northern El Paso County Including Monument and Black Forest, Southern El Paso County Including Fort Carson and Colorado Springs, Pueblo County Including Pueblo and 1 more, CO Northern El Paso County Including Monument and Black Forest, Southern El Paso County Including Fort Carson and Colorado Springs, Pueblo County Including Pueblo and 1 more expired
  19. Red Flag Warning: Central and Southeast Park County, CO Central and Southeast Park County expired
  20. Red Flag Warning: Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area, Paradox Valley, Northern San Juan and 4 more, CO and UT Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area, Paradox Valley, Northern San Juan and 4 more expired

Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov). A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.

What is a red flag warning?

A red flag warning means critical fire weather is happening or about to happen: strong wind, very low humidity and dry fuels together, so a fire that starts can spread fast. Each office sets the criteria with its land-management partners. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property. The national record · Every warning type in Colorado.

How does Colorado compare with its neighbours?

Colorado gets more red flag warnings than any state on its border.

StateA year, 2021-2025A year, 2008-2025Rank of all states
Colorado1391242nd
Kansas105943rd
Nebraska99714th
New Mexico951085th
Wyoming61617th
Oklahoma51509th
Arizona425411th
Utah323616th

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 11, 2026.

More records for Colorado