Red Flag Warning 16, NWS Pueblo, CO

458 
WWUS85 KPUB 270112
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
612 PM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

COZ222-227>230-271715-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FW.W.0015.000000T0000Z-260227T0100Z/
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0016.260227T1800Z-260228T0100Z/
Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek-
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-
612 PM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM MST
FRIDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 222, 227, 228, 229, AND 230... 
...RED FLAG WARNING FOR TODAY HAS EXPIRED FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 
222, 227, 228, 229, AND 230...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 222, 227, 228, 229 and 230.

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

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

* IMPACTS...Fires will catch and spread quickly. Exercise 
  extreme caution with any outdoor burning.

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.

&&

$$

COZ226-270215-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FW.W.0015.000000T0000Z-260227T0100Z/
Northern El Paso County Including Monument and Black Forest-
612 PM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 226...

Winds will continue to decrease this evening, while humidity
improves as well. 

$$

COZ221-271715-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0016.260227T1800Z-260228T0100Z/
Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument-
612 PM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM MST
FRIDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONE 221...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 221.

* WINDS...Northwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent.

* IMPACTS...Fires will catch and spread quickly. Exercise 
  extreme caution with any outdoor burning.

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.

&&

$$

641 
WWUS85 KPUB 270839
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
139 AM MST Fri Feb 27 2026

COZ221-222-227>230-280045-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0016.260227T1800Z-260228T0100Z/
Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument-
Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek-
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-
139 AM MST Fri Feb 27 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
6 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE FOR FIRE 
WEATHER ZONES 221, 222, 227, 228, 229, AND 230...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 221, 222, 227, 228, 229 and 
  230.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. The
  windiest conditions will be over Teller and Fremont Counties. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 9 percent.

* IMPACTS...Fires will catch and spread quickly. Exercise 
  extreme caution with any outdoor burning.

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.

&&

$$

690 
WWUS85 KPUB 271836
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1136 AM MST Fri Feb 27 2026

COZ221-222-227>230-280100-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260228T0100Z/
Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument-
Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek-
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-
1136 AM MST Fri Feb 27 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 221, 222,
227, 228, 229, AND 230...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 221, 222, 227, 228, 229 and 
  230.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...5 to 10 percent.

* IMPACTS...Fires will catch and spread quickly. Exercise 
  extreme caution with any outdoor burning.

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.

&&

$$

689 
WWUS85 KPUB 280038
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
538 PM MST Fri Feb 27 2026

COZ221-222-227>230-280145-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FW.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260228T0100Z/
Teller County/Rampart Range Including Pikes Peak and Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument-
Fremont County Including Canon City/Howard/Texas Creek-
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-
538 PM MST Fri Feb 27 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 221,
222, 227, 228, 229, AND 230...

The Red Flag Warning which was in effect for parts of the region
will expire at 6 pm this evening. 

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1014 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- High fire danger continues today, with elevated fire danger
  persisting Friday and Saturday.

- Above normal temperatures remain in place today through at
  least Saturday.

- Cooler and wetter weather returns as early as Sunday to
  portions of the Pikes Peak region, spreading across the
  remainder of the area through the middle of next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 117 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

Upper level jet will remain over the area today, with brisk mid
level flow at 7h/5h slowly tapering off late this afternoon and
evening as jet subtly weakens and drifts off to the north tonight.
Should be more than enough wind and dry air to justify the current
Red Flag Warning along I-25 and back through Fremont County, with a
few gusts over 40 mph likely from Pueblo westward through the
Arkansas Valley as w-nw winds line up with the river. Main question
for this afternoon is how far east will wly winds push, before cold
front arrives and switches winds to more nly by late day. Could get
an hour or two of critical conditions into Otero/Crowley/ern Las
Animas Counties before front moves through, but likely not long
enough to justify at warning at this point. Front could end
critical conditions in El Paso County a little early, but think
we'll get more than the required 3 hours as winds pick up early
enough in the morning. A few snow showers will linger over the
central mountains, especially this morning, though accums will
be limited to mainly higher elevations. Max temps today will
continue well above seasonal averages despite the frontal
passage, and kept maxes at or a little above most guidance
numbers.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 117 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

Friday, main question concerns the Fire Weather Watch, as lee
surface trough stays west of I-25, which will likely limit the
eastward spread of strong winds through the day. Still looks
fairly windy in Fremont/Teller Counties, with a few hints of
perhaps a weak mountain wave and enhanced winds in Teller County
late in the day. Will keep highlight a watch for now, but it
may need some reconfiguration as weekend approaches. Max temps
Fri look little changed from Thursday, with readings again well
above average. Mid-level flow relaxes a bit on Sat, and with 7h
flow generally under 20 kts, surface winds may end up weak
enough to avoid any fire weather highlights, though gap flow
through the Arkansas Valley could enhance things a bit. Upper
jet sags back southward across Colorado on Sunday, with frontal
boundary backing westward across the plains during the day. A
good deal of deterministic and ensemble guidance break out
precip behind the front over mainly northern Colorado late
Sunday into Sunday night, with rain and snow showers as far
south as the Pikes Peak region by late day. Current NBM low
pops/light QPF look fine for now, but might need to be increased
a bit as we get closer to the weekend.

Monday-Wednesday next week, western U.S. cut-off ejects across
Colorado during the period, though timing/strength/track differences
persist. Most consistent messages from the models appears to be 1)
system will bring precip to most of southern Colorado sometime
during the early/mid week, with 00z deterministic models leaning
toward Tues night/Wed having the highest pops, while NBM is faster
with higher pops during the day Tue. 2) System will be very warm,
keeping snow levels high (7k-8k feet) initially before falling
somewhat as low departs. This would keep bulk of precip rain on the
plains and along I-25, though some snow could be possible as the
system departs and temps cool. 3) Most solutions tend to track the
upper low quickly into the central plains, which will keep QPF on
the light side, with WPC and NBM consensus of less than a half inch
of total QPF, heaviest amounts over the mountains. Temps will cool
due to clouds and precip, with Monday potentially seeing the
lowest temperatures as clouds and light east winds could keep
cool air in place along and east of the mountains.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1012 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

VFR conditions at all three terminals (KALS, KCOS, KPUB) through
the next 24hours with passing mid and high level clouds. Gusty
northwest winds are forecast at each terminal, with gusts in
excess of 30 kts expected. Winds will subside this evening.

&&

.PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning until 6 PM MST this evening for COZ222-
226>230.
Fire Weather Watch from Friday morning through Friday
afternoon for COZ221-222-227>230.

&&

SHORT TERM...PETERSEN
LONG TERM...PETERSEN
AVIATION...MOZLEY

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
313 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

COZ058>089-093>099-271015-
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-
313 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Red Flag fire weather conditions will be likely again today along
the I-25 corridor and across Fremont County, where west winds will
gust 30 to 40 mph while relative humidity falls to below 15 percent.

Over the central mountains, scattered snow showers are expected
today, especially this morning, with an inch or two of accumulation
possible over the higher peaks.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

On Friday critical fire weather conditions are possible again along
I-25, and over Fremont and Teller Counties. On Saturday and Sunday
elevated fire weather conditons are possible, as pockets of gusty
winds and low relative humidity persist along and east of the
mountains.

Early next week, a weather system will bring increasing chances of
rain and snow to the region, especially Tuesday and Wednesday. At
this point, snow levels with the system look rather high, keeping
accumulating snow limited to the mountains, with mostly rain over
most valleys, along I-25 and across the southeast plains.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will
be possible over portions of the region.

10/10

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
603 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0537 AM     Snow             1 NNW Monarch Pass      38.51N 106.33W
02/26/2026  M4.0 Inch        Chaffee            CO   Public

            24 hr Snowfall Total.

&&