Red Flag Warning 5, NWS Pueblo, CO

838 
WWUS85 KPUB 180052
RFWPUB

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
552 PM MST Sat Jan 17 2026

COZ234>237-180200-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FW.W.0005.000000T0000Z-260118T0100Z/
Kiowa County Including Eads-Bent County Including Las Animas-
Prowers County Including Lamar-
Baca County Including Springfield and Eastern Comanche Grasslands-
552 PM MST Sat Jan 17 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 234,
235, 236, AND 237...

Winds have decreased and humidity levels increased. Therefore the
Red Flag Warning will expire at 6 PM across the far southeast
plains. 

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1039 PM MST Fri Jan 16 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Strong northerly winds diminishing through the evening.

- Cooler and breezy on Saturday, with elevated fire weather
  conditions across portions of the Plains.

- Up and down temperatures remain in the forecast into early
  next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 223 PM MST Fri Jan 16 2026

Current water vapor imagery and upper air analysis indicates strong
north to northwest flow aloft across the Rockies, with a broad upper
trough in place across the Upper Great Lakes through the Central
Conus. Water vapor imagery is also indicating secondary energy digging
down the backside of the trough across the Northern Tier at this time.
Satellite imagery indicating mid and high level moisture spreading
in from the north at this time. Strong northerly winds of 20 to 40
mph over and near the higher terrain and 40 to 60 mph across the far
southeast plains, has helped to boost temperatures into the 40s this
afternoon, with high clouds helping to limit mixing across the I-25
Corridor, where temperatures are still in the upper 20s and lower
30s as of 1 pm. Higher res model data still indicates a period of
breezy winds developing this afternoon across the I-25 Corridor,
which should help bump up temperatures, however, I did lower previous
high temperatures at tad.

Latest model data remains consistent in which strong northerly flow
continues tonight before diminishing through the day on Saturday,
as said Northern Tier wave continues to translate south and east
into the High Plains. With that said, should see strong northerly
winds diminishing across the plains, with winds likely remaining
breezy across the higher terrain, especially across the central
mountains. Moisture associated with the passing wave will continue
to lower through the overnight hours, with scattered snow showers
expected across the central mountains. Any accumulations are
expected to be light and spotty, and mainly across the higher peaks.
Further east, NBM is still trying to indicate some precipitation
across the eastern mountains and plains. However, with sounding
data indicating very dry sub cloud layers, have kept pops silent
tonight, save for the central mtns. Lows tonight to remain at and
below seasonal levels in the teens across the plains, with lows
single digits and teens across the higher terrain.

The passing secondary wave will bring colder temperatures to the
region on Saturday, along with continued breezy northerly winds of
20 to 40 mph areawide. Latest guidance trends toward cooler
temperatures and have lowered NBM a tad, with highs only in the 30s
across the plains and high mountain valleys, and mainly in the 20s
across the higher terrain.  Despite the cooler temperatures, dry air
will be in place across the region, leading to areas of elevated fire
weather conditions, mainly across the far southeast plains.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 258 AM MST Fri Jan 16 2026

Sunday will be much nicer with temps warming into the 50s most
of the plains with 40s valleys. Dry weather will continue.

Monday we will see another surge of cooler air come into the region,
but things will recover for the remainder of the week with mainly
50s plains and 40s valleys. Desi statistical guidance shows a bit
better chance of some precip next weekend.

\/Hodanish

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1039 PM MST Fri Jan 16 2026

KALS: VFR expected through 24 hours. Northwest winds will weaken
overnight, with gusts around 25 knots picking up again in the
afternoon.

KCOS: Breezy northwest flow is expected through most of this
forecast period. Stronger gusts will mix down towards the surface by
12Z Saturday morning, gusting 30-40 knots throughout the day and
weakening Saturday Night. Mid-level clouds will be persistent, but
currently cigs are expected to remain in VFR.

KPUB: Winds will turn northerly by 10Z or so Saturday morning, with
increasing flow into the afternoon. Gusts will be up to around 30
knots. Mid-level clouds will be prevalent until Saturday evening,
with clearing skies and weaker winds into the overnight.

&&

.PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

SHORT TERM...MW
LONG TERM...HODANISH
AVIATION...GARBEROGLIO

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
314 AM MST Fri Jan 16 2026

COZ058>089-093>099-171015-
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-
314 AM MST Fri Jan 16 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Strong winds are expected to develop later this morning over parts
of the plains. The strongest winds are expected to occur
generally east of a line from Ramah to Las Animas to east of
Springfield. The overall strongest wind gusts are expected to
occur over Kiowa and northern Prowers counties. Gust to 65 mph
will be possible.

The strong winds across parts of the plains today will likely
cause blowing dust to occur, which could restrict visibility
to a quarter mile or less.

Critical fire weather conditions will also be possible today
across Kiowa and Prowers counties, and a Red Flag warning is in
effect for these two counties. Across parts of the San Luis valley
and along the I-25 corridor, spotty elevated fire weather
conditions will be possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

No hazardous weather is anticipated at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

Hodanish