Red Flag Warning Issued for Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Trinidad Through Thursday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. This alert signifies that a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. This warning replaces the previously issued Fire Weather Watch for the region.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following geographic regions in Southern Colorado:

• Southern El Paso County: Including Colorado Springs and Fort Carson
• Pueblo County: Including the city of Pueblo
• Western Las Animas County: Including Trinidad and Thatcher
• Fire Weather Zones: 227, 228, and 230

Expected Conditions

Critical weather parameters provided by the NWS include:

• Winds: Through Wednesday evening, west winds of 30 to 40 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 60 mph. For Thursday, west winds will range from 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 11 percent.
• Impacts: Any fires that develop will likely catch and spread quickly due to the high wind speeds and dry air.

Timeline

The alert covers two distinct windows of concern:

• Wednesday: The first warning remains in effect until 7:00 PM MST this evening.
• Thursday: A second warning is in effect from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST Thursday.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are urged to exercise extreme caution. Avoid all activities that could potentially start a wildfire, such as outdoor burning or using equipment that produces sparks. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent.