High Wind Warning Issued for Pueblo, Fremont, and Las Animas Counties Through Wednesday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Pueblo has issued a High Wind Warning for portions of Southern Colorado. The alert (NWS code: HWW) signifies a high probability of damaging wind gusts that could impact infrastructure and travel safety.

Affected Areas

The warning applies to the following specific geographic regions:

• Eastern Fremont County: Including the Canon City vicinity.
• Pueblo County: Specifically the Pueblo vicinity below 6,300 feet.
• Western Las Animas County: Specifically the Trinidad vicinity below 7,500 feet.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are urged to take the following precautions:

• Seek Shelter: Remain in the lower levels of your home during the peak of the windstorm and stay away from windows.
• Watch for Hazards: Be alert for falling debris, tree limbs, and downed power lines.
• Travel Safety: Use extreme caution if you must drive. High-profile and light-weight vehicles will face difficult travel conditions.
• Visibility: Be prepared for sudden drops in visibility to under one mile due to blowing dust.

Expected Conditions

Two separate waves of high winds are anticipated:

• Primary Hazard: West winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts reaching up to 65 mph are expected during the first warning period.
• Secondary Hazard: Southwest winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph are expected during the second warning period.
• Impacts: Damaging winds are likely to blow down trees and power lines, which may result in power outages across the region.

Timeline

• First Warning: Remains in effect until 6:00 PM MST this evening, February 17.
• Second Warning: Effective from 6:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST on Wednesday, February 18.