Red Flag Warning Issued for Crowley, Otero, and Eastern Las Animas Counties

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. This alert is triggered by the combination of strong winds and very low relative humidity. A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued for the following day.

Affected Areas

The warning and watch cover Fire Weather Zones 231, 232, and 233. Specific regions include:

• Crowley County: Including Ordway
• Otero County: Including La Junta and the Western Comanche Grasslands
• Eastern Las Animas County: Including Pinon Canyon

What You Should Do

Residents are urged to exercise extreme caution with any outdoor burning or activities that could spark a fire. Under these conditions, fires can catch and spread with extreme speed. A Red Flag Warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. For the Fire Weather Watch, residents should listen for later forecasts and possible upgrades to warnings.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: West winds between 10 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching up to 35 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are projected to drop as low as 8 percent.
• Impacts: Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly due to the combination of wind and dry air.

Timeline

• Red Flag Warning: In effect from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM MDT on Friday, March 13.
• Fire Weather Watch: In effect from Saturday morning through Saturday evening.