Red Flag Warning Issued for Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Southern Colorado Through Monday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. The alert was issued by NWS Pueblo CO and is driven by a combination of strong gusty winds and low relative humidity levels.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following regions and communities in Southern Colorado:

• Northern El Paso County: Including Monument and Black Forest
• Southern El Paso County: Including Colorado Springs and Fort Carson
• Pueblo County: Including Pueblo
• Huerfano County: Including Walsenburg
• Western Las Animas County: Including Trinidad and Thatcher
• Fire Weather Zones: 226, 227, 228, 229, and 230

What You Should Do

Residents are urged to avoid all activities that could inadvertently start a wildfire. A Red Flag Warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent. Under these conditions, fires can catch and spread rapidly. Residents should also remain vigilant and listen for later forecasts, as a Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for the region following the current warning period.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Southwest winds between 15 and 30 mph are expected on Monday. West winds are forecast at 30 to 40 mph with gusts reaching up to 70 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 10 percent.
• Impacts: The combination of high winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures will contribute to extreme fire behavior, particularly on Tuesday.

Timeline

• Red Flag Warning: Effective from 11:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST on Monday, February 16.
• Fire Weather Watch: Remains in effect from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening.