Red Flag Warning Issued for San Luis Valley: Critical Fire Conditions Expected Wednesday
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
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The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the San Luis Valley as gusty winds and low humidity create a high risk for rapid fire spread on Wednesday afternoon.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Red Flag Warning
- Affected area
- San Luis Valley, Colorado
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Pueblo
Fire-weather notices describe conditions that can support rapid fire spread; they do not report that a fire is present. Check local emergency sources for any active incident.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in San Luis Valley, Colorado.
Red Flag Warning Issued for San Luis Valley
The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag Warning for the San Luis Valley, citing critical fire weather conditions expected to develop this afternoon.
Alert Details
- Alert Type: Red Flag Warning
- Issued By: National Weather Service Pueblo CO
- Effective Window: Wednesday, March 11, from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM MDT
Affected Areas
The warning covers Fire Weather Zone 224, which includes the San Luis Valley. Specific locations impacted include:
- Alamosa
- Del Norte
- Fort Garland
- Saguache
Expected Conditions
Residents should prepare for hazardous weather conditions that facilitate the rapid start and spread of fires:
- Winds: West winds between 10 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph.
- Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 11 percent.
- Hazards: A combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures will contribute to extreme fire behavior.
What You Should Do
The National Weather Service advises residents to exercise extreme caution with any outdoor burning. Under these conditions, fires can catch and spread very quickly. A Red Flag Warning signifies that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent.
Timeline
The current Red Flag Warning is in effect from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM MDT today, March 11. Additionally, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for the same area for Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening, indicating that critical conditions are forecast to occur again tomorrow.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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