Red Flag Warning 42, NWS Pueblo, CO

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.  

$$

491 
WWUS85 KPUB 170510
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1110 PM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026


COZ224-172115-
/O.EXB.KPUB.FW.W.0042.260417T1700Z-260418T0000Z/
San Luis Valley Including Alamosa/Del Norte/Fort Garland/Saguache-
1110 PM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 224...

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag
Warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity, which is in
effect from 11 AM to 6 PM MDT Friday.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 224.

* TIMING...From 11 AM to 6 PM MDT Friday.

* WINDS...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 13 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.

&&

$$

COZ230-233-237-172115-
/O.EXT.KPUB.FW.W.0042.260417T1400Z-260417T2200Z/
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
Baca County Including Springfield and Eastern Comanche Grasslands-
1110 PM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 4 PM MDT FRIDAY
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...From 8 AM to 4 PM MDT Friday.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 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.

&&

$$

378 
WWUS85 KPUB 172021
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
221 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026


COZ230-233-237-172200-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0042.000000T0000Z-260417T2200Z/
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
Baca County Including Springfield and Eastern Comanche Grasslands-
221 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON 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...Until 4 PM MDT this afternoon.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 13 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.

&&

$$

COZ224-180000-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0042.000000T0000Z-260418T0000Z/
San Luis Valley Including Alamosa/Del Norte/Fort Garland/Saguache-
221 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE
224...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 224.

* TIMING...Until 6 PM MDT this evening.

* WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 13 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.

&&

$$

914 
WWUS85 KPUB 172142
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
342 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026


COZ230-233-237-172245-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FW.W.0042.000000T0000Z-260417T2200Z/
Western Las Animas County Including Trinidad and Thatcher-
Eastern Las Animas County Including Pinon Canyon-
Baca County Including Springfield and Eastern Comanche Grasslands-
342 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 4 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 230,
233, AND 237...

A cold front has moved across the region and humidity values are
increasing as low level moisture moves into far southern Colorado.
Temperatures will also continue to fall through late afternoon. 

$$

COZ224-180000-
/O.CON.KPUB.FW.W.0042.000000T0000Z-260418T0000Z/
San Luis Valley Including Alamosa/Del Norte/Fort Garland/Saguache-
342 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE
224...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 224.

* TIMING...Until 6 PM MDT this evening.

* WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 13 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.

&&

$$

608 
WWUS85 KPUB 172339
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
539 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

COZ224-180045-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FW.W.0042.000000T0000Z-260418T0000Z/
San Luis Valley Including Alamosa/Del Norte/Fort Garland/Saguache-
539 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 224...

Temperatures will continue to cool and humidity values will
continue to increase this evening. 

$$

Hodanish

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1141 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Widespread Critical Fire Weather Conditions expected Thursday
  across southern Colorado. Critical Fire Weather Conditions are
  looking less likely Friday across portions of Las Animas and
  Baca counties due to the faster timing of a cold front, but
  will maintain the Fire Weather Watch for now.

- Colder temperatures with a chance of rain and snow spreads
  across the central and southeast mountains and adjacent
  plains Friday. Accumulating snow possible down to 6000 feet
  across the Pikes Peak region.

- Sub-freezing temperatures likely Saturday morning and again
  Sunday morning which could damage or kill tender vegetation
  and freeze exposed pipes.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 111 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

The next system moving across the northern U.S. Rockies and Great
Basin today will increase the flow aloft across southern CO as it
approaches this afternoon and evening. Surface lee trough deepens
and kicks eastward in response, increasing west to southwesterly
flow with compressional downslope warming and drying resulting in
critical fire weather conditions. Gusts up to 30 to 40 mph will be
possible across the lower elevations with gusts up to 60 mph in and
near the mountains. Humidity values will drop to as low as 7
percent, though where winds are strongest, humidity values will be
more moist than the 9 percent threshold needed for a PDS Red Flag. So
while it does look like a higher end Red Flag event, it will not
meet requirements for the strongest PDS wording.  In fact, it may be
rather late in the day before critical fire weather conditions
finally get met across portions of Prowers and Kiowa counties where
some of the lowest RHs are. Otherwise, it will be warm with highs in
the mid 70s to mid 80s across the plains with 60s for the valleys
and 40s and 50s for the majority of the mountain locals.

Winds decrease late in the evening with enhanced westerly flow
keeping low temperatures on the mild side ahead of cold front which
will be moving into the western and northern portions of the
forecast area towards dawn.  Showers will spread into the
Continental Divide and Pikes Peak region towards dawn.  Have kept
low temperatures on the mild side given the enhanced westerly flow
through most of the night. -KT

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 111 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

An active period continues for Friday as the base of the upper
trough swings through CO Friday morning sending a cold front through
most of the region during the morning.  Timing of the cold front is
a little faster with high res models showing it reaching the
southern border as early as 15z.  This puts the Fire Weather Watch
on Friday in jeopardy.  Do not plan to upgrade it yet, and will let
later shifts get one last look before potentially taking the Fire
Weather Watch down, in case the timing of the front changes yet
again.

Otherwise, there will be a significant cool down behind the
front with snow levels dropping to around 6000 feet during the
afternoon across the Pikes Peak region. This coincides with a brief
period of saturation and instability where some briefly intense
snowfall rates could occur.  However by the time saturation occurs,
upper lift with the system will be pushing east into KS, so will
have to rely on upslope as the primary mechanism unless the front or
the system slows down.  This points to the Pikes Peak region for the
best juxtaposition of parameters.  Probabilities of seeing advisory
criteria snowfall amounts of 6 inches or more are under 15% for
Teller and northern El Paso Counties, and around 50% or less for
over 3 inches of accumulation.  Brevity of the event, and residual
warmth of the ground may also play an important role in limiting
snowfall accumulations.  However, it will be a shock to the system
given the unseasonable warmth lately.  For now, think impacts will
be limited due to brevity and timing during the day, so no
winter weather advisories will be hoisted this package. Heaviest
QPF should stay north of highway 50 and pinned up against the
mountains. Gusty north winds can be expected behind the front
with gusts up to 40 to 50 mph possible across portions of the
plains. Could see a rain snow mix as far down in elevation as
4500 feet but accumulations are not likely beyond brief slush on
grassy surfaces below 6000 feet. Temperatures will be
considerably cooler and went below the NBM mean for highs which
will likely occur in the early morning for northern areas.

Activity should clear out Friday night with a hard freeze likely
across most of southern CO. the Freeze Watch still looks good,
and will maintain for now in concert with neighboring offices.
There is a high probability (75-100% chance) in NBM of seeing
subfreezing temperatures, and a 50 to 100% chance of sub 28
degree readings (or a hard freeze) across most of southern CO.
Due to the early start to the growing season, the Freeze Watch
will likely need to be upgraded to a Freeze Warning with later
packages.

Saturday will warm up and dry out and temperatures Saturday night
will likely drop below freezing once again especially along and
north of the Arkansas River through Sunday morning.  More Freeze
Watches may be necessary.

It dries out and warms up for Sunday into early next week,
though once upper flow transitions to more southwesterly next
week, it could tap sufficient moisture for some isolated showers
over the mountains. Another system late week may bring another
uptick in precipitation chances towards Thursday and Friday
though timing and storm track is still highly variable among the
long range models/ensembles. Stuck close to model blends for
now. -KT

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1141 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

KCOS and KPUB: VFR conditions are expected over the next 24 hours.
Winds are expected to increase early in this TAF period as diurnal
mixing becomes established. These winds are expected to lessen
during the evening hours with light winds anticipated through a
portion of the overnight timeframe. With that said, a cold front is
expected to push southward in the early morning, with FROPA taking
place between 10-12z Friday morning. Gusty northerly to
northeasterly winds are expected to fill in behind the front through
the rest of the TAF period thereafter. Beyond that, dry conditions
are anticipated, with mid to high level clouds persisting through
tomorrow morning. Clouds are expected to start lowering quickly near
the end of this TAF period, especially for KCOS.

KALS: VFR conditions are expected over the next 24 hours.Winds are
expected to increase early in this TAF period as diurnal mixing
becomes established. These winds are expected to lessen during the
evening hours with light winds anticipated through a portion of the
overnight timeframe. With that said, winds will start to increase
early tomorrow morning in response to a passing storm system, with
gusty southwesterly winds expected by mid tomorrow morning.
Otherwsie, dry conditions are anticipated, with pockets of mid to
high level clouds persisting through tomorrow morning.

&&

.PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning until 11 PM MDT this evening for COZ220>222-
224>237.
Freeze Watch from late Friday night through Saturday morning
for COZ083>089-093>099.
Fire Weather Watch from Friday morning through Friday evening
for COZ230-233-237.

&&

SHORT TERM...KT
LONG TERM...KT
AVIATION...SIMCOE

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1126 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

COZ058>089-093>099-171730-
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-
1126 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Critical Fire Weather Conditions can be expected across much of
southern Colorado today with winds gusting up to 30 to 40 mph across
the lower elevations and up to 50 to 60 mph in and near the
mountains. Rapid rates of fire spread will be likely, and any
activities which could start a wildfire should be avoided.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Much cooler weather spreads in for Friday though the southern
portions of the southeast plains could see another round of Critical
Fire Weather conditions Friday morning before the cold front moves
through.  Otherwise, snow showers will spread into the mountains
along the Continental Divide by Friday morning, and into northern
portions of the southeast mountains and adjacent plains by mid day
Friday.  Snow tapers off quickly Friday evening with the potential
for up to 5 inches of snow across Teller county, and up to 4 inches
across northern El Paso county and northern portions of the Sawatch
and Mosquito ranges. Elsewhere, a mix or change over to snow may
spread as far down in elevation as 4000 feet though any accumulation
is more likely to occur at 6000 feet and higher.

A hard freeze will be likely Friday night into Saturday morning and
again Saturday night into Sunday morning across much of the
southeast plains.  Precautions should be taken to protect tender
vegetation and vulnerable pipes from freezing.

Temperatures warm back up for the weekend through next week with at
least elevated critical fire weather conditions returning to the
plains and valleys at times. Showers and thunderstorms will return
to the forecast, especially late week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters will not be needed today or tonight.

27/27