United StatesColoradoNWS, FEMA, USGSArchive to October 13, 2026
Colorado: warnings and declarations in 2026
The National Weather Service issued 1,578 warnings for Colorado in 2026 through September, 52% above the average of 1,039 for those months in 2008-2025. The most frequent was the severe thunderstorm warning (977). FEMA has made 4 declarations for Colorado this year.
Latest notices in Colorado
NWS PuebloWatchOctober 13, 2026
Freeze Watch: Del Norte Vicinity/Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft, Alamosa Vicinity/Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft and Southern San Luis Valley, CO
In force until 8:00 a.m. MDT, October 15, 2026
NWS PuebloWarningOctober 11, 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Alamosa, Costilla, Huerfano and 2 more, CO
Expired 7:00 p.m. MDT, October 11, 2026
NWS PuebloWarningOctober 11, 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Crowley, El Paso and Pueblo, CO
Expired 6:15 p.m. MDT, October 11, 2026
NWS PuebloWarningOctober 11, 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Alamosa, Costilla, Huerfano and 1 more, CO
Expired 4:45 p.m. MDT, October 11, 2026
NWS PuebloWarningOctober 3, 2026
Flood Warning: Bent, CO
Expired 3:36 p.m. MDT, October 4, 2026
NWS PuebloWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flood Warning: Prowers, CO
Expired 9:00 a.m. MDT, October 2, 2026
NWS PuebloWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flood Warning: Bent, CO
Expired 6:15 p.m. MDT, October 1, 2026
NWS PuebloWatchOctober 1, 2026
Flood Watch: Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 And 11000 Ft, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains above 11000 Ft, Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Ft and 17 mor
Expired 12:00 p.m. MDT, October 1, 2026
Which warnings, watches and advisories does Colorado get?
| Product | Yearly average 2008-2025 | 2025 | 2026 through September | Average, same months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe Thunderstorm Warning | 628 | 1,007 | 977 | 621 |
| Flood Advisory | 235 | 161 | 279 | 233 |
| Red Flag Warning | 124 | 129 | 210 | 105 |
| Winter Weather Advisory | 120 | 108 | 45 | 77 |
| Flash Flood Warning | 116 | 119 | 229 | 116 |
| Tornado Warning | 87 | 69 | 56 | 87 |
| Fire Weather Watch | 80 | 90 | 160 | 70 |
| Winter Storm Warning | 52 | 29 | 16 | 34 |
| Winter Storm Watch | 49 | 29 | 5 | 32 |
| Dense Fog Advisory | 34 | 43 | 9 | 23 |
| High Wind Warning | 31 | 30 | 16 | 20 |
| Flood Warning | 29 | 17 | 9 | 29 |
| Severe Thunderstorm Watch | 28 | 40 | 38 | 28 |
| Freeze Warning | 26 | 26 | 30 | 13 |
| Wind Advisory | 24 | 18 | 12 | 19 |
| Flash Flood Watch | 24 | 1 | 22 | 23 |
| Snow Squall Warning (since 2018) | 23 | 3 | 12 | 13 |
| High Wind Watch | 18 | 22 | 13 | 11 |
| Freeze Watch | 15 | 16 | 24 | 7 |
| Frost Advisory | 12 | 13 | 5 | 5 |
| Cold Weather Advisory | 9 | 14 | 6 | 7 |
| Flood Watch | 9 | 25 | 26 | 8 |
| Tornado Watch | 7 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| Blizzard Warning | 7 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| Blowing Dust Advisory | 4 | 8 | 5 | 4 |
| Snow and Blowing Advisory | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Heat Advisory | 3 | 9 | 23 | 3 |
| Extreme Cold Warning | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| Snow Advisory | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Dust Storm Warning | 3 | 6 | 12 | 2 |
| Blizzard Watch | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Dust Advisory (since 2018) | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Freezing Fog Advisory | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Extreme Heat Watch | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Extreme Heat Warning | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 13, 2026.
How many warnings does Colorado get each year?
Every NWS warning (VTEC significance W) that covered part of Colorado. 2026 is drawn as an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 1,585 |
| 2025 | 1,456 |
| 2024 | 1,232 |
| 2023 | 1,904 |
| 2022 | 1,036 |
| 2021 | 1,238 |
| 2020 | 1,068 |
| 2019 | 1,099 |
| 2018 | 1,242 |
| 2017 | 883 |
| 2016 | 1,170 |
| 2015 | 1,119 |
| 2014 | 1,120 |
| 2013 | 1,035 |
| 2012 | 682 |
| 2011 | 982 |
| 2010 | 1,017 |
| 2009 | 952 |
| 2008 | 861 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 13, 2026.
When in the year?
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 13, 2026.
FEMA declarations for Colorado in 2026
FEMAMajor disasterSeptember 1, 2026
DR-4944-CO: Fire, wildfires, flooding, and mudslides
4 designated areas
FEMAFire managementJuly 5, 2026
FM-5644-CO: Fire, willow fire
1 designated area
FEMAFire managementJune 30, 2026
FM-5643-CO: Fire, gold mountain fire
1 designated area
FEMAFire managementJune 29, 2026
FM-5642-CO: Fire, aspen acres fire
2 designated areas
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. Data as of October 11, 2026.
Recent earthquakes in Colorado
USGSM2.7August 17, 2026
M2.7 earthquake, 8 km SW of Walsenburg, Colorado
At 1:06 p.m. UTC, August 17, 2026
USGSM2.5August 16, 2026
M2.5 earthquake, 12 km NNW of Walsenburg, Colorado
At 3:41 p.m. UTC, August 16, 2026
USGSM2.6August 6, 2026
M2.6 earthquake, 15 km SSE of Stonewall Gap, Colorado
At 1:28 a.m. UTC, August 6, 2026
USGSM3.8July 27, 2026
M3.8 earthquake, 31 km S of Segundo, Colorado
At 6:40 a.m. UTC, July 27, 2026
USGSM3.7July 6, 2026
M3.7 earthquake, 32 km SSW of Segundo, Colorado
At 9:31 a.m. UTC, July 6, 2026
Source: U.S. Geological Survey earthquake catalog.
Questions about Colorado's warnings
How many weather warnings does Colorado get a year?
An average of 1,116 NWS warnings a year in 2008-2025, and 1,456 in 2025.
What is the most common warning in Colorado?
The severe thunderstorm warning: 628 a year on average in 2008-2025.
Where do the live warnings come from?
From the National Weather Service's alert feed (api.weather.gov), which AreaZine reads every few minutes. For a warning in force now, the NWS office page and NOAA Weather Radio are the first source; phones receive only the most dangerous warnings as Wireless Emergency Alerts.