Red Flag Warning 41, NWS Pueblo, CO

317 
WWUS85 KPUB 160708
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
108 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026



COZ230-233-237-162315-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0041.260416T1700Z-260417T0500Z/
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.A.0036.260417T1600Z-260418T0100Z/
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
Baca County Including Springfield and Eastern Comanche Grasslands-
108 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
11 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 230, 233, AND 237...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 230, 233, AND 237...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 230, 233 and 237.

* TIMING...For the Red Flag Warning, from 11 AM this morning to 
  11 PM MDT this evening. For the Fire Weather Watch, from 
  Friday morning through Friday evening.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 6 percent today and as low as 12
  percent on Friday.

* IMPACTS...Elevated fire danger is expected. Fires will catch 
  and spread rapidly and erratically.

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>222-224>229-231-232-234>236-162315-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0041.260416T1700Z-260417T0500Z/
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-
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-
Crowley County Including Ordway-
Otero County Including La Junta and Western Comanche Grasslands-
Kiowa County Including Eads-Bent County Including Las Animas-
Prowers County Including Lamar-
108 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
11 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 220, 221, 222, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228,
229, 231, 232, 234, 235, AND 236...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 220, 221, 222, 224, 225, 
  226, 227, 228, 229, 231, 232, 234, 235 and 236.

* TIMING...From 11 AM this morning to 11 PM MDT this evening.

* WINDS...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph across
  the plains and up to 60 mph across the high country.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 percent across the mountains
  and as low as 7 percent across the plains.

* IMPACTS...Elevated fire danger is expected. Fires will catch 
  and spread rapidly and erratically.

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.

&&

$$

958 
WWUS85 KPUB 161844
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1244 PM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026


COZ230-233-237-171045-
/O.UPG.KPUB.FW.A.0036.260417T1600Z-260418T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KPUB.FW.W.0042.260417T1600Z-260417T2200Z/
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0041.000000T0000Z-260417T0500Z/
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
Baca County Including Springfield and Eastern Comanche Grasslands-
1244 PM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 230, 233, AND 237...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 230,
233, AND 237...

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag
Warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity, which is in
effect from 10 AM to 4 PM MDT Friday. The Fire Weather Watch is
no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 230, 233 and 237.

* TIMING...For the first Red Flag Warning, until 11 PM MDT this 
  evening. For the second Red Flag Warning, from 10 AM to 4 PM 
  MDT Friday.

* WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 6 percent.

* IMPACTS...Elevated fire danger is expected. Fires will catch 
  and spread rapidly and erratically.

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.

&&

$$

COZ220>222-224>229-231-232-234>236-170500-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0041.000000T0000Z-260417T0500Z/
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-
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-
Crowley County Including Ordway-
Otero County Including La Junta and Western Comanche Grasslands-
Kiowa County Including Eads-Bent County Including Las Animas-
Prowers County Including Lamar-
1244 PM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 220, 221, 222, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 231,
232, 234, 235, AND 236...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 220, 221, 222, 224, 225, 
  226, 227, 228, 229, 231, 232, 234, 235 and 236.

* TIMING...Until 11 PM MDT this evening.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 7 percent.

* IMPACTS...Elevated fire danger is expected. Fires will catch 
  and spread rapidly and erratically.

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.

&&

$$

468 
WWUS85 KPUB 170440
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1040 PM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

COZ230-233-237-172045-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FW.W.0041.000000T0000Z-260417T0500Z/
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0042.260417T1600Z-260417T2200Z/
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
Baca County Including Springfield and Eastern Comanche Grasslands-
1040 PM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM MDT
FRIDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 230, 233, AND 237...
...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 230, 233, AND 237...

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has cancelled the Red Flag
Warning.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 230, 233 and 237.

* TIMING...From 10 AM to 4 PM MDT Friday.

* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 14 percent.

* IMPACTS...Fires will catch and spread quickly. Exercise extreme
  caution and avoid 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.

&&

$$

COZ220>222-224>229-231-232-234>236-170545-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FW.W.0041.000000T0000Z-260417T0500Z/
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-
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-
Crowley County Including Ordway-
Otero County Including La Junta and Western Comanche Grasslands-
Kiowa County Including Eads-Bent County Including Las Animas-
Prowers County Including Lamar-
1040 PM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 220, 221, 222, 224, 225, 226,
227, 228, 229, 231, 232, 234, 235, AND 236...

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has cancelled the Red Flag
Warning.

Winds will continue to decrease as humidity levels gradually
increase above critical thresholds. Therefore the Red Flag Warning
has been cancelled.  

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1116 AM MDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Dry and seasonal today, with spotty elevated fire danger

- Breezy and warm Thursday with the return of widespread critical
  fire weather conditions

- Next storm system brings rain and snow showers, along with
  gusty winds for Friday into Friday night, followed by
  widespread sub-freezing temperatures Saturday and Sunday
  mornings

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1247 AM MDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Upper trough will lift out of Colorado this morning, with slowly
building ridge across the state by late day. Main concern for
today will be potential for some spotty elevated fire weather
conditions, mainly in gap flow favored regions and across the
upper Arkansas Valley. At this point, flow aloft doesn't appear
strong enough to drive widespread gusts above 25 mph as 7h winds
are under 20 kts, so will run with no highlights and just a
mention of brief elevated conditions in the fire weather
forecast. Max temps today will run at least in the vicinity of
seasonal values, though most locations will end up a few degf
on the warmer side of averages by late afternoon.

On Thursday, upper ridge migrates eastward into the High Plains,
with increasing swly mid/upper flow across CO as next upper
trough digs into the nrn Great Basin. While mid-level flow isn't
terribly impressive (25-35 kts at 7h), surface gradient looks
favorable for gusty winds, while humidity drops off to below 10
percent in spots by afternoon as deep mixing develops. Should
have enough wind to justify the current fire weather highlight,
though have started to see some weaker gusts on the plains in
some of the 00z guidance, so have kept it a watch for now. Max
temps will climb back into the 70s/80s on the plains with deep
mixing, with 60s valleys and 50s/60s mountains.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 1247 AM MDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Upper trough swings through the central Rockies Friday/Friday
night, with tend toward a faster system continuing in most 00z
deterministic models. As a result, cold frontal passage on the
plains has sped up, with a few solutions bringing the front
through the plains Fri morning, while majority of
models/ensembles point toward a slightly later passage in the
afternoon. Deep wly flow ahead of the front could produce some
critical fire weather conditions on the plains early Fri,
especially south of the Arkansas River, though confidence is
frontal timing is low enough to preclude any highlights at this
point. Over the mountains, snow showers start early Fri morning
along the Continental Divide, spreading eastward across the
remaining mountains and high terrain through the day. If the
front is quick enough, could see showers into the Pikes Peak
region/Pueblo County Friday afternoon, with a thunderstorm
possible as lapse rates steepen. Rain changes to snow quickly
even along I-25 late Fri/Fri evening, with some moderate snow
accums (2-4 inches in Teller County) forecast, and won't be
surprised to see at least some light accums along the Palmer
Divide/nrn COS as well. Forcing for precip drops off quickly
the farther south you go across the region, and many areas south
of the Arkansas River will see little or no rain/snow.

Upward motion diminishes quickly Fri night as trough moves
rapidly away, and expect most if not all precip to end by
midnight across the area. Winds die off and skies clear
overnight, leading to widespread sub-freezing temperatures Sat
morning, with teens mountains and valleys, 20s on the plains.
Cool and dry on Saturday, and will ignore slight chance NBM pops
Sat afternoon, as air mass looks too dry to support convection.
After another sub-freezing start Sun morning, warming trend
begins from Sun afternoon into early next week, with mainly dry
conditions and temperatures back to well above seasonal levels.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1116 AM MDT Wed Apr 15 2026

VFR conditions are expected at KALS, KCOS, and KPUB through 24
hours. Weswt-southwest winds are expected to pick up across the area
this afternoon, gusting 20-25 knots or so. Winds will weaken
overnight while keeping a southwest component at KCOS and KPUB,
while KALS will turn more southerly.

&&

.PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Fire Weather Watch from Thursday morning through Thursday
evening for COZ220>222-224>237.

&&

SHORT TERM...PETERSEN
LONG TERM...PETERSEN
AVIATION...GARBEROGLIO

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1129 AM MDT Wed Apr 15 2026

COZ058>089-093>099-161730-
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-
1129 AM MDT Wed Apr 15 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Fire danger increases again on Thursday across much of the
region, with gusty southwest winds and relative humidity below 10
percent. Another fast-moving weather system and cold front will
then bring a chance for rain and snow showers to the northern
half of the area from Friday into Friday night, and light to
moderate snow accumulations will be possible over the central
mountains and Pikes Peak region, with the heaviest snow above 7000
feet. As this system exits the area on Saturday, colder air will
spill south over the state, with morning low temperatures well
below freezing over much of southern Colorado both Saturday and
Sunday mornings.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters will not be needed today or tonight.

EHR/10