Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2020

Red Flag Warning 30, NWS Pueblo, CO

May 19, 202017 counties in Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this red flag warning at May 19, 2020, 3:49 AM MDT for 17 counties in Colorado. It took effect at May 20, 2020, 11:00 AM MDT. It was in force for 10 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 19, 2020, 3:49 AM MDT (09:49 UTC)
In effect from
May 20, 2020, 11:00 AM MDT
Expired
May 20, 2020, 9:00 PM MDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO

Counties Alamosa County, CO, Chaffee County, CO, Conejos County, CO, Costilla County, CO, Crowley County, CO, Custer County, CO, El Paso County, CO, Fremont County, CO, Huerfano County, CO, Lake County, CO, Las Animas County, CO, Mineral County, CO, Otero County, CO, Pueblo County, CO, Rio Grande County, CO, Saguache County, CO, Teller County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:51 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 00:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 272 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2020-05-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 513 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2020-05-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 88 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
513 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-83 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3173 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
52 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
88 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
232 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

858 
WWUS85 KPUB 190949
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
349 AM MDT Tue May 19 2020

...A Red Flag Warning remains in effect from noon until 8 PM 
Today, for gusty winds, low humidity, high Haines indices, and 
dry fuels for fire weather zones 220, 222, 224, 229 and 230, which
includes the Upper Arkansas River Valley, Fremont county, the San
Luis Valley and the southern I-25 corridor in Huerfano and Las 
Animas counties...

...A Red Flag Warning has been issued from 11 AM until 9 PM 
Wednesday, for gusty winds, low humidity, high Haines indices and
dry fuels for fire weather zones 220 through 233, which includes 
all the mountains and high valleys, the I-25 corridor Counties, 
and Crowley and Otero Counties...

COZ220-222-224-229-230-200200-
/O.UPG.KPUB.FW.A.0021.200520T1800Z-200521T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KPUB.FW.W.0030.200520T1700Z-200521T0300Z/
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0029.200519T1800Z-200520T0200Z/
Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee
County-Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek-
San Luis Valley Including Alamosa/Del Norte/Fort Garland/Saguache-
Huerfano County Including Walsenburg-
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
349 AM MDT Tue May 19 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT
THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, AND HIGH
HAINES INDICES FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 220...222...224...229 AND
230...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM MDT WEDNESDAY
FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, AND HIGH HAINES INDICES
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 220...222...224...229 AND 230...

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag
Warning for gusty winds, low relative humidity, and high haines
indices, which is in effect from 11 AM to 9 PM MDT Wednesday. The
Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 220...222...224...229 and 
  230.

* Winds...South 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph today and
  South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph on Wednesday.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 7 percent.

* Impacts...Conditions will be favorable for the rapid ignition, 
  growth, and spread of fires today and again on Wednesday.

* Haines...6.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

COZ221-223-225>228-231>233-200200-
/O.UPG.KPUB.FW.A.0021.200520T1800Z-200521T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KPUB.FW.W.0030.200520T1700Z-200521T0300Z/
Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument-
Eastern San Juan Mountains and La Garita Mountains Including Wolf
Creek Pass and Creede-
Southern Front Range Including Sangre De Cristo Mountains/Wet
Mountains/La Veta Pass-
Northern El Paso County Including Monument and Black Forest-
Southern El Paso County Including Fort Carson and Colorado
Springs-Pueblo County Including Pueblo-
Crowley County Including Ordway-
Otero County Including La Junta and Western Comanche Grasslands-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
349 AM MDT Tue May 19 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM MDT WEDNESDAY
FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, AND HIGH HAINES INDICES
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 221...223...225...226...227...228...231...
232 AND 233...

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag
Warning for gusty winds, low relative humidity, and high haines
indices, which is in effect from 11 AM to 9 PM MDT Wednesday. The
Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 221...223...225...226... 
  227...228...231...232 and 233.

* Winds...South 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 10 percent.

* Impacts...Conditions will be favorable for the rapid ignition, 
  growth, and spread of fires.

* Haines...6.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
6 follow-up statements
230 
WWUS85 KPUB 192103
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
303 PM MDT Tue May 19 2020

...A Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 8 PM today, for 
gusty winds, low humidity, high Haines indices, and dry fuels for 
fire weather zones 220, 222, 224, 229 and 230, which includes the 
Upper Arkansas River Valley, Fremont county, the San Luis Valley 
and the southern I-25 corridor in Huerfano and Las Animas 
counties...

...A Red Flag Warning remains in effect from 11 AM until 9 PM 
Wednesday, for gusty winds, low humidity, high Haines indices and 
dry fuels for fire weather zones 220 through 233, which includes 
all the mountains and high valleys, the I-25 corridor Counties, 
and Crowley and Otero Counties...

COZ220-222-224-229-230-201315-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0029.000000T0000Z-200520T0200Z/
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0030.200520T1700Z-200521T0300Z/
Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee
County-Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek-
San Luis Valley Including Alamosa/Del Norte/Fort Garland/Saguache-
Huerfano County Including Walsenburg-
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
303 PM MDT Tue May 19 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, HIGH HAINES INDICES, AND
DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 220...222...224...229 AND 230...

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, HIGH HAINES 
INDICES, AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 220...222...224... 
229 AND 230...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 220...222...224...229 and 
  230.

* Winds...South 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 7 percent.

* Impacts...Conditions will be favorable for the rapid ignition, 
  growth, and spread of fires today and again on Wednesday.

* Haines...6.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

COZ221-223-225>228-231>233-201315-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0030.200520T1700Z-200521T0300Z/
Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument-
Eastern San Juan Mountains and La Garita Mountains Including Wolf
Creek Pass and Creede-
Southern Front Range Including Sangre De Cristo Mountains/Wet
Mountains/La Veta Pass-
Northern El Paso County Including Monument and Black Forest-
Southern El Paso County Including Fort Carson and Colorado
Springs-Pueblo County Including Pueblo-
Crowley County Including Ordway-
Otero County Including La Junta and Western Comanche Grasslands-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
303 PM MDT Tue May 19 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, HIGH HAINES 
INDICES, AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 221...223...225... 
226...227... 228...231...232 AND 233...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 221...223...225...226... 
  227...228...231...232 and 233.

* Winds...South 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 10 percent.

* Impacts...Conditions will be favorable for the rapid ignition, 
  growth, and spread of fires.

* Haines...6.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
792 
WWUS85 KPUB 200135
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
735 PM MDT Tue May 19 2020

...A Red Flag Warning will expire at 8 PM for fire weather zones 
220, 222, 224, 229 and 230, which includes the Upper Arkansas 
River Valley, Fremont county, the San Luis Valley and the southern
I-25 corridor in Huerfano and Las Animas counties...

...A Red Flag Warning remains in effect from 11 AM until 9 PM
Wednesday, for gusty winds, low humidity, high Haines indices and
dry fuels for fire weather zones 220 through 233, which includes
all the mountains and high valleys, the I-25 corridor Counties,
and Crowley and Otero Counties...

COZ220-222-224-229-230-201745-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FW.W.0029.000000T0000Z-200520T0200Z/
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0030.200520T1700Z-200521T0300Z/
Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee
County-Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek-
San Luis Valley Including Alamosa/Del Norte/Fort Garland/Saguache-
Huerfano County Including Walsenburg-
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
735 PM MDT Tue May 19 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 220...222...224...229 AND 230...

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 220...222...224... 229 AND 230...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 220...222...224...229 and 
  230.

* Winds...South 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 7 percent.

* Impacts...Conditions will be favorable for the rapid ignition, 
  growth, and spread of fires today and again on Wednesday.

* Haines...6.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

COZ221-223-225>228-231>233-201745-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0030.200520T1700Z-200521T0300Z/
Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument-
Eastern San Juan Mountains and La Garita Mountains Including Wolf
Creek Pass and Creede-
Southern Front Range Including Sangre De Cristo Mountains/Wet
Mountains/La Veta Pass-
Northern El Paso County Including Monument and Black Forest-
Southern El Paso County Including Fort Carson and Colorado
Springs-Pueblo County Including Pueblo-
Crowley County Including Ordway-
Otero County Including La Junta and Western Comanche Grasslands-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
735 PM MDT Tue May 19 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 221...223...225...226...
227...228...231...232 AND 233...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 221...223...225...226... 
  227...228...231...232 and 233.

* Winds...South 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 10 percent.

* Impacts...Conditions will be favorable for the rapid ignition, 
  growth, and spread of fires.

* Haines...6.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

Hodanish
284 
WWUS85 KPUB 200258
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
858 PM MDT Tue May 19 2020

...A Red Flag Warning remains in effect from 11 AM until 9 PM 
Wednesday, for gusty winds, low humidity, high Haines indices and 
dry fuels for fire weather zones 220 through 233, which includes 
all the mountains and high valleys, the I-25 corridor counties, 
and Crowley and Otero Counties...

COZ220>233-201900-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0030.200520T1700Z-200521T0300Z/
Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee
County-
Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument-
Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek-
Eastern San Juan Mountains and La Garita Mountains Including Wolf
Creek Pass and Creede-
San Luis Valley Including Alamosa/Del Norte/Fort Garland/Saguache-
Southern Front Range Including Sangre De Cristo Mountains/Wet
Mountains/La Veta Pass-
Northern El Paso County Including Monument and Black Forest-
Southern El Paso County Including Fort Carson and Colorado
Springs-Pueblo County Including Pueblo-
Huerfano County Including Walsenburg-
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
Crowley County Including Ordway-
Otero County Including La Junta and Western Comanche Grasslands-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
858 PM MDT Tue May 19 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 220...222...224...229 AND 230...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 220...221...222...223... 
  224...225...226...227...228...229...230...231...232 and 233.

* Winds...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 8 percent.

* Impacts...Conditions will be favorable for the rapid ignition, 
  growth, and spread of fires today and again on Wednesday.

* Haines...6.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
282 
WWUS85 KPUB 201012
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
412 AM MDT Wed May 20 2020

...A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11 AM MDT today until 9 
PM MDT this evening, for gusty winds, low humidity, high Haines 
indices and dry fuels for fire weather zones 220 through 233, 
which includes all the mountains and high valleys, the I-25 
corridor counties as well as Crowley and Otero counties...

COZ220>233-210215-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0030.200520T1700Z-200521T0300Z/
Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee
County-
Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument-
Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek-
Eastern San Juan Mountains and La Garita Mountains Including Wolf
Creek Pass and Creede-
San Luis Valley Including Alamosa/Del Norte/Fort Garland/Saguache-
Southern Front Range Including Sangre De Cristo Mountains/Wet
Mountains/La Veta Pass-
Northern El Paso County Including Monument and Black Forest-
Southern El Paso County Including Fort Carson and Colorado
Springs-Pueblo County Including Pueblo-
Huerfano County Including Walsenburg-
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
Crowley County Including Ordway-
Otero County Including La Junta and Western Comanche Grasslands-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
412 AM MDT Wed May 20 2020

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 9 
PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 220...221...222...223...
224...225...226...227...228...229...230...231...232 AND 233.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 220...221...222...223... 
  224...225...226...227...228...229...230...231...232 and 233.

* Winds...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts around 40 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 7 percent.

* Impacts...Conditions will be favorable for the rapid ignition,
  growth, and spread of fires today and this evening.

* Haines...6.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
974 
WWUS85 KPUB 202044
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
244 PM MDT Wed May 20 2020

...A Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 9 PM MDT this 
evening, for gusty winds, low humidity, high Haines indices and 
dry fuels for fire weather zones 220 through 233, which includes 
all the mountains and high valleys, the I-25 corridor counties as
well as Crowley and Otero Counties...

...A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Friday afternoon and
evening due to gusty winds, low relative humidity, high Haines 
indices, and dry fuels for fire weather zones 224, 230, and 233, 
which includes the San Luis Valley and lower elevations of Las 
Animas County...

COZ224-230-233-211245-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FW.A.0022.200522T1900Z-200523T0300Z/
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-200521T0300Z/
San Luis Valley Including Alamosa/Del Norte/Fort Garland/Saguache-
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
244 PM MDT Wed May 20 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, AND HIGH HAINES INDICES
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 224...230 AND 233...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, AND HIGH
HAINES INDICES FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 224...230 AND 233...

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Fire Weather
Watch for gusty winds, low relative humidity, and high haines
indices, which is in effect from Friday afternoon through Friday
evening.

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 224...230 and 233.

* Winds...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 4 percent.

* Impacts...Conditions will be favorable for the rapid ignition, 
  growth, and spread of fires today and this evening.

* Haines...6.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.

&&

$$

COZ220>223-225>229-231-232-210300-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-200521T0300Z/
Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee
County-
Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument-
Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek-
Eastern San Juan Mountains and La Garita Mountains Including Wolf
Creek Pass and Creede-
Southern Front Range Including Sangre De Cristo Mountains/Wet
Mountains/La Veta Pass-
Northern El Paso County Including Monument and Black Forest-
Southern El Paso County Including Fort Carson and Colorado
Springs-Pueblo County Including Pueblo-
Huerfano County Including Walsenburg-
Crowley County Including Ordway-
Otero County Including La Junta and Western Comanche Grasslands-
244 PM MDT Wed May 20 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, AND HIGH HAINES INDICES
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 220...221...222...223...225...226...227...
228...229...231 AND 232...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 220...221...222...223... 
  225...226...227...228...229...231 and 232.

* Winds...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 8 percent.

* Impacts...Conditions will be favorable for the rapid ignition, 
  growth, and spread of fires today and this evening.

* Haines...6.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$
011 
WWUS85 KPUB 210257
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
857 PM MDT Wed May 20 2020

...A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for Friday afternoon 
and evening due to gusty winds, low relative humidity, high Haines
indices, and dry fuels for fire weather zones 224, 230, and 233, 
which includes the San Luis Valley and lower elevations of Las 
Animas County...

COZ224-230-233-211900-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-200521T0300Z/
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.A.0022.200522T1900Z-200523T0300Z/
San Luis Valley Including Alamosa/Del Norte/Fort Garland/Saguache-
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
857 PM MDT Wed May 20 2020

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY,
HIGH HAINES INDICES AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 
224...230 AND 233...

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 224...230 AND 233...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zones 224...230 and 233.

* Winds...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* Relative Humidity...near 5 percent.

* Impacts...Conditions will be favorable for the rapid ignition, 
  growth, and spread of fires today and this evening.

* Haines...6.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.

&&

$$

COZ220>223-225>229-231-232-210400-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FW.W.0030.000000T0000Z-200521T0300Z/
Upper Arkansas River Valley Including Lake County and Chaffee
County-
Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument-
Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek-
Eastern San Juan Mountains and La Garita Mountains Including Wolf
Creek Pass and Creede-
Southern Front Range Including Sangre De Cristo Mountains/Wet
Mountains/La Veta Pass-
Northern El Paso County Including Monument and Black Forest-
Southern El Paso County Including Fort Carson and Colorado
Springs-Pueblo County Including Pueblo-
Huerfano County Including Walsenburg-
Crowley County Including Ordway-
Otero County Including La Junta and Western Comanche Grasslands-
857 PM MDT Wed May 20 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 220...221...222...223...225...226...227... 
228...229...231 AND 232...

Winds will continue to subside and humidity values will rise over
the next couple of hours, therefore, the Red Flag Warning has been
allowed to expire.

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this red flag warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Pueblo, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this red flag warning went out at May 18, 11:15 PM MDT, 4 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 18, 11:15 PM MDT, 4 hours 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1115 PM MDT Mon May 18 2020

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday)
Issued at 244 PM MDT Mon May 18 2020

Red Flag conditions have been observed over the San Luis Valley,
the southern I-25 corridor, and the upper Arkansas River Valley
this afternoon, so the Red Flag Warning has been necessary.
Critical fire weather conditions are expected to continue into the
evening. There is a small chance of an isolated storm over the
southern I-25 corridor this evening, but confidence is low.

Tomorrow will be another warm day with the potential for showers and
thunderstorms during the later afternoon. First, the fire weather
potential. There has been a Red Flag Warning issued for the San Luis
Valley, the upper Arkansas River Valley, the I-25 corridor
portions of Huerfano and Las Animas Counties, and Fremont County
tomorrow from 12 PM MDT through 8PM MDT. Confidence is high that
the mountain valleys will experience critical fire weather
conditions, but the southern I-25 corridor has a bust potential,
since convection is expected to develop near that region. If
storms do develop over the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains,
the surface temperatures will cool and therefore the relative
humidity values will increase, bringing Huerfano and Las Animas
Counties out of critical fire weather conditions. Now for the
thunderstorm potential. All models, including the HREF members are
picking up on some sort of convection developing off a surface
boundary over the eastern plains. On the east side of the boundary
CAPE values ranging from 1000 to 2000 J/kg and on the west side
there will be very little CAPE. A low amplitude shortwave is
expected to propagate over Colorado, which may be enough to spark
some thunderstorms. The variable holding back the storms is the
CIN located over the region. If the wave comes through early
enough and surface heats up enough, severe storms are not out of
the question. If those storms do form, the shear values are on the
low side, with 0-6km bulk shear values around 25-35 kts, so the
storms will be outflow dominated and will likely dissipate
quickly. The LCLs will also be around 8-10kft, so there is a lot
of strong downdraft potential. Very warm temperatures are expected
tomorrow. Alamosa will be close to breaking a record with a
forecast of 80F in the forecast, the eastern plains will be in the
upper 80s to lower 90s, Teller County will be in the 70s, the
upper Arkansas River Valley will be in the mid to upper 70s, and
the mountains will be in the 50s to 60s.

.LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday)
Issued at 244 PM MDT Mon May 18 2020

Most, if not all showers/storms are expected to end by around
midnight Tue night and most locations should see above average
overnight low temps. The forecast models are indicating the
potential for low stratus Tue night/Wed morning over much of the
plains. On Wed an upper trof is forecast to extend from an upper
low over ID, through UT, with increasing southerly flow over CO.
Breezy to windy conditions are expected over most of southern CO
Wed afternoon, in addition to much of the area seeing RH values
fall below 15%, with the exception of the eastern border area
where some low clouds may hang on longer and better low level
moisture will mean higher RH values. However, more widespread
critical fire weather conditions are expected on Wed. At this
time, the weather looks dry on Wed over most of the area, with
highs in the 80s over the plains, upper 60s and lower 70s in the
high valleys, and 60s to around 70 in Teller County.

A front is expected to move through the southeast plains Thu
morning, and the upper trof will be moving across CO through the
day.  The GFS and NAM basically show dry weather on Thu, while the
ECMWF shows isolated to scattered precip chances.  Will probably
stick with the NBM which has low, to no precip. Winds should be
lighter on Thu with higher humidity and only some spotty areas of
critical fire weather conditions, mostly in the San Luis Valley.

Fri looks like a quiet weather day ahead of the next upper system
over the northwest U.S.. There could be some spotty critical fire
weather conditions in the San Luis Valley again, but the winds look
too light elsewhere.

That next upper trof is then expected to extend form MT, through
western WY and into UT, by Sat evening.  Again, southern CO looks to
be dry with increasing winds as the upper trof approaches, and the
potential for more widespread fire weather concerns. A front moves
through early Sun with the passage to the north, of an upper
disturbance, while another upper trof moves across CO during the day
and into the evening, leading to better chances for precip across
much of the area, and more limited fire weather concerns.  By Mon an
shortwave ridge is expected to build over the area with a return to
dry weather and lighter winds.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night)
Issued at 1112 PM MDT Mon May 18 2020

VFR conditions anticipated across much of the forecast area over
the next 24 hrs, including the 3 main TAF sites of KCOS, KPUB and
KALS. The one exception will be along the eastern border in the
vcnty of KLAA, where lower cigs may push in from the east
overnight tonight, producing MVFR to IFR cigs between 09z and 15z.
Isolated convection may fire up across the plains tomorrow late
aftn, but at this time is expected to develop east of the TAF
sites. Moore

&&

.PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday
evening for COZ220>233.

Red Flag Warning from noon to 8 PM MDT Tuesday for COZ220-222-
224-229-230.

&&

SHORT TERM...SKELLY
LONG TERM...28
AVIATION...MOORE
Hazardous weather outlook, May 18, 7:58 PM MDT, 7 hours 51 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
758 PM MDT Mon May 18 2020

COZ058>089-093>099-191300-
Western Mosquito Range/East Lake County Above 11000 Feet-
Leadville Vicinity/Lake County Below 11000 Feet-
Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Western Chaffee County Between 9000 and 11000 Feet-
Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Feet-
Western Mosquito Range/East Chaffee County Above 9000 Feet-
Saguache County West of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet-
Saguache County East of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet-
La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Upper Rio Grande Valley/Eastern San Juan Mountains Below
10000 Feet-Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Del Norte Vicinity/Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Alamosa  Vicinity/Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Southern San Luis Valley-
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 And 11000 Feet-
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Feet-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Northwestern Fremont County Above 8500 Feet-
Western/Central Fremont County Below 8500 Feet-
Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Wet Mountains between 6300 and 10000 Feet-
Wet Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Teller County/Rampart Range Above 7500 Feet/Pikes Peak Between
7500 And 11000 Feet-Pikes Peak Above 11000 Feet-
Canon City Vicinity/Eastern Fremont County-
Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below
7500 Feet-
Colorado Springs Vicinity/Southern El Paso County/Rampart Range
Below 7400 Feet-Pueblo Vicinity/Pueblo County Below 6300 Feet-
Walsenburg Vicinity/Upper Huerfano River Basin Below 7500 Feet-
Trinidad Vicinity/Western Las Animas County Below 7500 Feet-
Crowley County-La Junta Vicinity/Otero County-
Eastern Las Animas County-Western Kiowa County-
Eastern Kiowa County-Las Animas Vicinity/Bent County-
Lamar Vicinity/Prowers County-Springfield Vicinity/Baca County-
758 PM MDT Mon May 18 2020

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east
central...south central and southeast Colorado.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Many southern Colorado locations will experience elevated fire
danger concerns from Tuesday into the weekend, with the most
widespread near critical to critical fire weather conditions
expected Wednesday and Saturday.

In addition, isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms,
capable of producing hazardous lightning, small hail, gusty winds
and brief periods of moderate rainfall are possible over primarily
select eastern locations from Tuesday into Saturday with an
increase of shower and thunderstorm activity anticipated Sunday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters will not be needed tonight.

27/34

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pueblo, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 19, 2:58 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBPueblo32 min
May 19, 3:15 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBPueblo30 min
May 19, 3:26 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBEl Paso34 min
May 19, 3:53 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCrowley37 min
May 19, 3:55 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBEl Paso35 min
May 19, 4:21 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCrowley, Pueblo39 min
May 19, 4:32 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso28 min
May 19, 4:46 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBEl Paso29 min
May 19, 4:54 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCrowley36 min
May 19, 4:58 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCrowley47 min
May 19, 5:13 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBEl Paso47 min
May 19, 5:28 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCrowley47 min
May 19, 5:32 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCrowley, Otero43 min

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Colorado, 2020Every red flag warning in 2020

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.