Red Flag Warning Issued for San Luis Valley

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag Warning for the San Luis Valley, citing critical fire weather conditions expected to develop this afternoon.

Alert Details

• Alert Type: Red Flag Warning
• Issued By: National Weather Service Pueblo CO
• Effective Window: Wednesday, March 11, from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM MDT

Affected Areas

The warning covers Fire Weather Zone 224, which includes the San Luis Valley. Specific locations impacted include:

• Alamosa
• Del Norte
• Fort Garland
• Saguache

Expected Conditions

Residents should prepare for hazardous weather conditions that facilitate the rapid start and spread of fires:

• Winds: West winds between 10 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are expected to drop as low as 11 percent.
• Hazards: A combination of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures will contribute to extreme fire behavior.

What You Should Do

The National Weather Service advises residents to exercise extreme caution with any outdoor burning. Under these conditions, fires can catch and spread very quickly. A Red Flag Warning signifies that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent.

Timeline

The current Red Flag Warning is in effect from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM MDT today, March 11. Additionally, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for the same area for Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening, indicating that critical conditions are forecast to occur again tomorrow.