Red Flag Warning Issued for Southern Colorado: Extreme Fire Danger Expected Thursday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity. This alert signifies that critical fire weather conditions are imminent or occurring, replacing the previously issued Fire Weather Watch.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts a wide geographic range across Southern Colorado, including:

• Fremont County: Including Canon City, Howard, and Texas Creek.
• San Luis Valley: Including Alamosa, Del Norte, Fort Garland, and Saguache.
• Southern Front Range: Including Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Wet Mountains, and La Veta Pass.
• El Paso County: Including Monument, Black Forest, Fort Carson, and Colorado Springs.
• Pueblo County: Including Pueblo.
• Huerfano County: Including Walsenburg.
• Las Animas County: Including Trinidad, Thatcher, and Pinon Canyon.
• Crowley, Otero, Kiowa, Bent, Prowers, and Baca Counties: Including Ordway, La Junta, Eads, Las Animas, Lamar, and Springfield.

What You Should Do

Residents should prepare for extreme fire danger. A Red Flag Warning means that a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. In these conditions, fires will spread uncontrollably and can be very destructive. Residents are urged to exercise extreme caution and follow local fire safety regulations.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels will drop significantly to between 5 and 10 percent.
• Impacts: Critical conditions will support rapid and dangerous fire growth.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is in effect from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST on Thursday, March 5, 2026.