Two wildfires occurred in Otero County, fanned by strong winds. One 35 acre blaze occurred near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.
Two wildfires occurred in Otero County, fanned by strong winds. One 35 acre blaze occurred near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. There was no damage. The other larger fire, south of Rocky Ford, consumed approximately 2000 acres, and forced the evacuation of seven residences. A shed, and abandoned farm building were destroyed, along with minor damage to a bridge on State Highway 10.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Pueblo, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 21, 3:53 AM MST, 8 hours 7 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 453 AM MDT MON MAR 21 2011 .SHORT TERM... (TODAY AND TONIGHT) ...EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ANTICIPATED TODAY AND THIS EVENING... RECENT REAL-TIME DATA IN COMBINATION WITH FORECAST MODEL SOUNDINGS AND COMPUTER SIMULATIONS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WELL-ADVERTISED THREAT FOR EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER THE EASTERN 2/3RDS OF THE CWFA FROM TODAY INTO THIS EVENING...THEREFORE EXISTING RED FLAG WARNING FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 221 AND 222 AS WELL AS FIRE WEATHER ZONES 225>237 WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT. WITH THE EXISTING DRY AND WARM CONDITIONS...FORECAST WIND GUSTS IN THE 30 TO 50+ MPH RANGE AT TIMES AND RELATIVE HUMIDITIES DROPPING INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS...EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH IS LIKELY TODAY AND THIS EVENING IF A WILD-FIRE WERE TO START. IN ADDITION TO THE FIRE THREAT...SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN MOUNTAINS FROM LATE TODAY AND CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT AND TUESDAY AS AN UPPER DISTURBANCE MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. AS OF THIS WRITING...ANTICIPATE THAT 2 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW WILL BE NOTED OVER PORTIONS OF ZONES 60/66 AND 68 FROM LATE TODAY INTO TUESDAY EVENING...THEREFORE WILL CONTINUE WITH EXISTING WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THESE AREAS. ELSEWHERE...OUTSIDE OF THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY AREAS...EXPECT NIL TO LOW GRADE POPS TODAY AND TONIGHT IN COMBINATION WITH ABOVE SEASONAL LATE MARCH MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES. .LONG TERM... (TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY) ...SNOW CONTINUES ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TUESDAY... ...POTENTIAL HIGH FIRE DANGER TUESDAY ACROSS THE PLAINS... FOR TUESDAY...MAIN ISSUES WILL BE SNOW ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AND POTENTIAL FIRE WEATHER DAY ACROSS THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS. NAM12 AND GFS CONTINUE TO SHOW SNOWFALL ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE EASTERN SAWATCH RANGE AND LA GARITA AND EASTERN SAN JUANS. COULD ACCUMULATE ANOTHER 3 OR 4 INCHES DURING THE DAY AND EVENING. PRIME TIME FOR THE SNOW WOULD BE DURING THE MORNING BEFORE TROUGH AXIS PASSES EAST. MEANTIME...IT LOOKS LIKE FIRE DANGER WOULD BE HIGH ACROSS THE PLAINS DURING THE AFTERNOON...WITH DRY FUELS...LOW HUMIDITY BETWEEN 10 AND 15 PERCENT...AND WIND GUSTS OVER 25 MPH...AND TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S. DDC...GLD AND BOU HOISTED FIRE WEATHER WATCHES...AND OURS WILL CONTINUE...WITH THE STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT RED FLAG CONDITIONS WILL LAST FOR 3 HOURS. SPC OUTLOOK HAS CRITICAL EXTENDING ACROSS ALL OF EASTERN COLORADO. FOR WEDNESDAY...A SHORTWAVE RIDGE CENTERS OVER THE STATE BRINGING LIGHTER WINDS AND A BREAK FROM ANY SNOW ACROSS THE DIVIDE. MILD CONDITIONS SHOULD PERSIST...WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S ACROSS THE PLAINS AND 40S AND 50S HIGH VALLEYS...WITH 30S AND 40S IN THE MOUNTAINS. FROM THURSDAY ON...THE DETAILS GET A LITTLE FUZZY...WITH ANOTHER BROAD TROUGH ENTERING THE WESTERN U.S. THERE MAY BE SMALL CHANCES FOR RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS THE DIVIDE...BUT THE REST OF THE AREA SHOULD BE DRY AND FAIRLY MILD. THE GFS AND EUROPEAN MODELS BEGIN TO DIFFER AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND...BUT BOTH TEND TO INDICATE A TRENDING DOWN OF TEMPERATURES AS A TROUGH BRINGS IN COOLER AIR FOR THE WEEKEND. -TLM- && .AVIATION...STRONG GUSTY WINDS FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 20 MPH TO 30 MPH WITH WIND GUSTS IN THE 35 TO 50 MPH RANGE AT TIMES ARE ANTICIPATED AT THE KALS/KCOS AND KPUB TAF SITES TODAY...ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR COZ221-222-225>237. FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR COZ221-222-225>237. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MDT TUESDAY FOR COZ066-068. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT MDT TUESDAY NIGHT FOR COZ060. && 77/13
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 1035 AM MDT MON MAR 21 2011 COZ058>089-093>099-221645- WESTERN MOSQUITO RANGE/EAST LAKE COUNTY ABOVE 11000 FT- LEADVILLE VICINITY/LAKE COUNTY BELOW 11000 FT- EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT- WESTERN CHAFFEE COUNTY BETWEEN 9000 AND 11000 FT- CENTRAL CHAFFEE COUNTY BELOW 9000 FT- WESTERN MOSQUITO RANGE/EAST CHAFFEE COUNTY ABOVE 9000 FT- SAGUACHE COUNTY WEST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BELOW 10000 FT- SAGUACHE COUNTY EAST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BELOW 10000 FT- LA GARITA MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT- UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY/EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS BELOW 10000 FT- EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT- DEL NORTE VICINITY/NORTHERN SAN LUIS VALLEY BELOW 8500 FT- ALAMOSA VICINITY/CENTRAL SAN LUIS VALLEY BELOW 8500 FT- SOUTHERN SAN LUIS VALLEY- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 8500 AND 11000 FT- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FEET- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 7500 AND 11000 FT- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT- NORTHWESTERN FREMONT COUNTY ABOVE 8500 FT- WESTERN/CENTRAL FREMONT COUNTY BELOW 8500 FT- WET MOUNTAIN VALLEY BELOW 8500 FEET- WET MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 6300 AND 10000 FT- WET MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT- TELLER COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE ABOVE 7500 FT/PIKES PEAK BETWEEN 7500 AND 11000 FT-PIKES PEAK ABOVE 11000 FT- CANON CITY VICINITY/EASTERN FREMONT COUNTY- NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/MONUMENT RIDGE/RAMPART RANGE BELOW 7500 FT- COLORADO SPRINGS VICINITY/SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE BELOW 7400 FT-PUEBLO AND VICINITY/PUEBLO COUNTY BELOW 6300 FT- WALSENBURG VICINITY/UPPER HUERFANO RIVER BASIN BELOW 7500 FT- TRINIDAD VICINITY/WESTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY BELOW 7500 FT- 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- 1035 AM MDT MON MAR 21 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT STRONG WINDS...LOW HUMIDITIES AND DRY FUELS WILL RESULT IN VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS TODAY INTO THIS EVENING. A COMBINATION OF SOUTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH GUSTING TO 50 MPH...HUMIDITIES LESS THAN 10 PERCENT AND DRY VEGETATION WILL RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH SHOULD A FIRE GET STARTED. EXTREME CAUTION IS ADVISED TO AVOID FIRE STARTS. ACTIVITIES THAT COULD BECOME A SOURCE OF IGNITION SUCH AS OUTDOOR BURNING OR COOKING SHOULD BE POSTPONED. OPERATION OF MOTORIZED VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT IN AREAS OF DRY OR DEAD VEGETATION SHOULD BE MONITORED CLOSELY OR POSTPONED IF POSSIBLE. ACCUMULATING SNOW IS EXPECTED TO FALL ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BEGINNING LATE TODAY AND CONTINUING INTO TUESDAY EVENING AS A PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE PROBABLE AGAIN TUESDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS. DRY FUELS...HUMIDITIES BELOW 15 PERCENT...AND WINDS FREQUENTLY OVER 25 MPH WILL RESULT IN CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH. EXTREME CAUTION TO AVOID FIRE STARTS IS URGED. AT THE PRESENT TIME...IT APPEARS THAT THURSDAY...FRIDAY AND SATURDAY COULD ALL BE HIGH FIRE DANGER DAYS...WITH A REPRIEVE IN THE THREAT ON WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY. SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVER THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 10 INCHES WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE EASTERN SAWATCH...EASTERN SAN JUAN AND LA GARITA MOUNTAINS BY TUESDAY EVENING. ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL COULD FALL ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE THURSDAY...FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...WITH A BREAK IN SNOWFALL EXPECTED WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY. SEVERAL INCHES OF NEW SNOW COULD ACCUMULATE ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE DURING THE THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY TIME FRAME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT MEET REPORTING CRITERIA FOR SPOTTERS WILL BE LIKELY TONIGHT FOR AREAS ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. 44/50
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, March 2011
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 293793.