Alert archive / Colorado / Red Flag Warnings in 2026

Red Flag Warning 55, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

August 3, 2026Grand County, Jackson County, Summit County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this red flag warning at Aug 3, 2026, 11:55 AM MDT for Grand County, Jackson County, Summit County, Colorado. It took effect at Aug 4, 2026, 1:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 6 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
Aug 3, 2026, 11:55 AM MDT (17:55 UTC)
In effect from
Aug 4, 2026, 1:00 PM MDT
Expired
Aug 4, 2026, 7:00 PM MDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Grand County, CO, Jackson County, CO, Summit County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 146 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:56 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 text

As transmitted.

281 
WWUS85 KBOU 031755
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver CO
1155 AM MDT Mon Aug 3 2026

COZ211-213-041200-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0055.260804T1900Z-260805T0100Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-Grand and Summit Counties Below
9000 Feet-
1155 AM MDT Mon Aug 3 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM MDT TUESDAY DUE TO
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR NORTH PARK AND MIDDLE PARK...

The National Weather Service in Denver CO has issued a Red Flag
Warning.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 211 and 213.

* TIMING...From 1 PM to 7 PM MDT Tuesday.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Between 13 to 17 percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid
  outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start
  a wildfire.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be sure you are signed up for your local emergency alert system. You
can find this information at dhsem.colorado.gov/emergencyalert.

Follow all fire restrictions. Avoid activities that can cause sparks
and do not park hot vehicles on dry vegetation. One less spark, one
less wildfire.

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.

&&

$$

Hiris
3 follow-up statements
313 
WWUS85 KBOU 040739
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver CO
139 AM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

COZ211-213-042130-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.A.0043.260805T1800Z-260806T0100Z/
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0055.260804T1900Z-260805T0100Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-Grand and Summit Counties Below
9000 Feet-
139 AM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING DUE TO WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR ALL
MOUNTAIN VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9,000' ...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7
PM MDT THIS EVENING DUE TO WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR NORTH
PARK AND MIDDLE PARK...

The National Weather Service in Denver CO has issued a Fire Weather
Watch in effect from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 211 AND 213.

* TIMING...For the Red Flag Warning, from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 PM
  MDT this evening. For the Fire Weather Watch, from Wednesday
  afternoon through Wednesday evening.

* WINDS...For the Red Flag Warning west 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to
  30 mph, and for the Fire Weather Watch west 10 to 20 mph with gusts
  up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...For the Red Flag Warning between 12 to 17
  percent, and for the Fire Weather Watch between 8 to 15 percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid
  outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start
  a wildfire.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Follow all fire restrictions. Avoid activities that can cause sparks
and do not park hot vehicles on dry vegetation. One less spark, one
less wildfire.

Be sure you are signed up for your local emergency alert system. You
can find this information at dhsem.colorado.gov/emergencyalert.

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.

&&

$$

COZ212-214-217-218-042130-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.A.0043.260805T1800Z-260806T0100Z/
South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest
Boulder/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties
Above 9000 Feet-Central and Southeast Park County-West Jackson
and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet-South and East
Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/Northwest Boulder
Counties Above 9000 Feet-
139 AM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING DUE TO WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR ALL
MOUNTAIN VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9,000'.

The National Weather Service in Denver CO has issued a Fire Weather
Watch.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 211, 212, 213, 214, 217, and
  218.

* TIMING...From Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.

* WINDS...West 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Between 8 to 15 percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid
  outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start
  a wildfire.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Follow all fire restrictions. Avoid activities that can cause sparks
and do not park hot vehicles on dry vegetation. One less spark, one
less wildfire.

&&

$$

09
472 
WWUS85 KBOU 041820
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver CO
1220 PM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

COZ211-213-050130-
/O.UPG.KBOU.FW.A.0043.260805T1800Z-260806T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0056.260805T1800Z-260806T0100Z/
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0055.260804T1900Z-260805T0100Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-Grand and Summit Counties Below
9000 Feet-
1220 PM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT WEDNESDAY DUE TO
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR NORTH PARK AND MIDDLE PARK...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING DUE
TO WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR NORTH PARK AND MIDDLE PARK...

The National Weather Service in Denver CO has issued a Red Flag
Warning in effect from noon to 7 PM MDT Wednesday.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 211 and 213.

* TIMING...For the first Red Flag Warning, until 7 PM MDT this
  evening. For the second Red Flag Warning, from noon to 7 PM MDT
  Wednesday.

* WINDS...For the first Red Flag Warning, west 10 to 15 mph with
  gusts up to 35 mph. For the second Red Flag Warning, west 10 to 20
  mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...For the first Red Flag Warning, between 11 to
  17 percent. For the second Red Flag Warning, between 7 to 15
  percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid
  outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start
  a wildfire.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Follow all fire restrictions. Avoid activities that can cause sparks
and do not park hot vehicles on dry vegetation. One less spark, one
less wildfire.

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.

&&

$$

COZ212-214-217-218-050130-
/O.UPG.KBOU.FW.A.0043.260805T1800Z-260806T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.FW.W.0056.260805T1800Z-260806T0100Z/
South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest
Boulder/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties
Above 9000 Feet-Central and Southeast Park County-West Jackson
and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet-South and East
Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/Northwest Boulder
Counties Above 9000 Feet-
1220 PM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT WEDNESDAY DUE TO
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTH PARK AND ELEVATIONS ABOVE
9000 FEET...

The National Weather Service in Denver CO has issued a Red Flag
Warning in effect from noon to 7 PM MDT Wednesday.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 212, 214, 217, and 218.

* TIMING...From noon to 7 PM MDT Wednesday.

* WINDS...West 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Between 7 to 17 percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid
  outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start
  a wildfire.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Follow all fire restrictions. Avoid activities that can cause sparks
and do not park hot vehicles on dry vegetation. One less spark, one
less wildfire.

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.

&&

$$

AP
992 
WWUS85 KBOU 050058
RFWBOU

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
658 PM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

COZ211-213-050900-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FW.W.0055.000000T0000Z-260805T0100Z/
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0056.260805T1800Z-260806T0100Z/
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-
Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet-
658 PM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY FOR NORTH PARK AND MIDDLE PARK...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
NORTH PARK AND MIDDLE PARK...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 211 and 213.

* TIMING...From noon to 7 PM MDT Wednesday.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 8 percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. 
  Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a 
  spark and start a wildfire.

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.

&&

$$

COZ212-214-217-218-050900-
/O.CON.KBOU.FW.W.0056.260805T1800Z-260806T0100Z/
South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/
Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above
9000 Feet-Central and Southeast Park County-
West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet-
South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/
Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet-
658 PM MDT Tue Aug 4 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT
WEDNESDAY FOR SOUTH PARK AND ELEVATIONS ABOVE 9000 FEET...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 212, 214, 217 and 218.

* TIMING...From noon to 7 PM MDT Wednesday.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 8 percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. 
  Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a 
  spark and start a wildfire.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Follow all fire restrictions. Avoid activities that can cause
sparks and do not park hot vehicles on dry vegetation. One less
spark, one less wildfire.

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.

&&

$$

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 Denver/Boulder, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this red flag warning went out at Aug 3, 5:39 AM MDT, 6 hours 16 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Hot again today, with temperatures reaching into the upper 90s and lower 100s before a cold front brings relief by this evening.
  • Heat Advisory continues until 6PM tonight for the I-25 corridor and Weld County.
  • Elevated fire weather conditions are expected across the eastern plains this afternoon.
  • Cooler for Tuesday and Wednesday before temperatures gradually warm back to the triple digits by next weekend.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 3, 5:39 AM MDT, 6 hours 16 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
539 AM MDT Mon Aug 3 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Hot again today, with temperatures reaching into the upper 90s
  and lower 100s before a cold front brings relief by this
  evening.

- Heat Advisory continues until 6PM tonight for the I-25 corridor
  and Weld County.

- Elevated fire weather conditions are expected across the eastern
  plains this afternoon.

- Cooler for Tuesday and Wednesday before temperatures gradually
  warm back to the triple digits by next weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Sunday/...
Issued at 1243 AM MDT Mon Aug 3 2026

We will kick off the work week with one more day of hotter than
normal temperatures before a cold front brings some relief for
Tuesday and Wednesday. The Heat Advisory remains in place through
6 PM tonight along the I-25 corridor and Weld County. With poor
overnight recoveries (much of the lower elevations remain in the
70s and 80s as of 230 AM), it won't take long for temperatures to
heat back up to uncomfortable values. Of course, there is the
possibility that the cold front picks up its pace and arrives
sooner than expected, which would prevent temperatures from
heating to the current forecast highs. Considering temperatures
are a few degrees warmer tonight compared to this time yesterday,
and most locations hit the mid 90s by early afternoon on Sunday,
confidence remains fairly high that most locations will reach the
triple digits before the front arrives, with highest confidence
for locations from Fort Collins and Greeley southward across
metro Denver. While most people will be happy to see a few days of
relief from the heat, we are expecting smoke concentrations to
increase with the approaching airmass from fires outside our
region.

Precipitation chances will remain fairly low today, with the
general expectation being that high-based showers will develop
early afternoon across the higher elevations and bring gusty
outflow winds and microburst potential as they pass by. DCAPE
values will range from 1500-2000 J/kg, which would make for
potential for an isolated severe gust, but expecting 35-45 mph
gusts with the majority of what develops. If any precipitation
does manage to make it to the ground, it is expected to remain
very light (a few hundredths). Winds are expected to become gusty
with the frontal passage that will likely see some localized
elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions until relative
humidity has time to improve behind the front. There is a slight
chance that a few thunderstorms develop along the front that could
lead to some dry lightning concerns as well since little
precipitation is expected. Overnight lows tonight are expected to
be about 10-15 degrees cooler than Sunday night across the lower
elevations.

On Tuesday, northern Colorado will sit on the southern edge of a
40 kt 500 mb jet that will increase winds across the higher
elevations. While the lower elevations will see much cooler
temperatures compared to the past few days, as 700 mb temperatures
cool by about 10C over the plains, there will be far less cooling
across the mountain valleys (700 mb temps only cool by a few
degrees C). Afternoon highs will struggle to get out of the 70s
across the lower elevations, where North and Middle park will warm
into the mid 80s. With the increasing winds expected across our
mountain valleys coinciding with relative humidities in the mid-
teens, we are expecting elevated to critical fire weather
conditions to develop in North and Middle Park in the afternoon.
The jet is expected to drop slightly southward on Wednesday that
will keep critical fire weather concerns in place for the higher
elevations once again, where relative humidities are expected to
drop into the single-digits.

Precipitation chances will remain limited through the week, with
the best chances for any accumulations expected over the Central
Mountains on Tuesday afternoon, and our northeastern corner on
Wednesday. By Thursday, the ridge is expected to rebuild over the
western CONUS and temperatures are expected to gradually increase
each day until they approach the triple-digits again by next
weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS through 12Z Tuesday/...
Issued at 530 AM MDT Mon Aug 3 2026

There are three main topics to discuss for potential impacts
across the Denver TAF sites this TAF period. The first will be
with the potential for high-based virga showers developing over
the higher elevations by early afternoon and moving eastward over
the TAF sites by the 19/20Z time frame. The latest trend in
guidance has moved closer to the 20Z start time. DCAPE values are
expected to be fairly impressive (1500-2000 J/kg), and with
little moisture expected, the main concern will be with strong
gusty outflows/microbursts producing gusts between 35-45 kts as
they pass by. Timing for greatest potential will be between 20Z
to 0Z. The next concern is with the arrival of a cold front. There
is still some uncertainty with its exact arrival time, but gusty
northerly winds are expected beginning around 22-24Z for KDEN/KBJC
followed by KAPA about an hour after. The initial northerly push
is expected to bring 20-25 kt northerly winds, with winds expected
to increase by another 10-15 kts by 3/4Z. While there isn't a lot
of moisture expected behind the front, there will be low
potential for an isolated thunderstorm to develop with the frontal
passage. Probabilities aren't high enough to add in the TAF at
this point, but there is a nonzero chance that we see something
develop outside of the current PROB30. With north/northeasterly
flow expected behind the front, we could see a few hours of
ceilings drop to around BKN040-050 late tonight (around 6/7Z),
before gradually lifting early Tuesday morning.

Finally, smoke concentrations are expected to intensify
significantly behind the front that will likely bring visibility
concerns through the rest of the TAF period. Depending on the
exact timing of the front, there could be slant-range visibility
concerns as early as sunset tonight, but the greater
concentrations aren't expected until 3/4Z tonight.

&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory until 6 PM MDT this evening for COZ038>043.

&&

DISCUSSION...9
AVIATION...9

The office that day

Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 3, 3:20 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUPhillips40 min

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in Colorado, 2026Every red flag warning in 2026

Sources

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