Red Flag Warning Issued for Southeast Colorado: Critical Fire Conditions Expected Thursday
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Kiowa, Bent, Prowers, and Baca counties due to high winds and low humidity, creating critical fire hazards.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag Warning for southeast Colorado. The alert (NWS code: FWW) was issued early Thursday morning and signifies that critical fire weather conditions are imminent or occurring.
Affected Areas
The warning affects Fire Weather Zones 234, 235, 236, and 237. Specific geographic regions include:
- Kiowa County: Including Eads
- Bent County: Including Las Animas
- Prowers County: Including Lamar
- Baca County: Including Springfield and the Eastern Comanche Grasslands
What You Should Do
Residents in the warning area are urged to exercise extreme caution with any outdoor burning. Under these conditions, fires will catch and spread quickly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Prepare for hazardous conditions and monitor local updates.
Expected Conditions
The National Weather Service reports the following conditions for the affected region:
- Winds: West winds between 10 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching up to 35 mph.
- Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 9 percent.
- Impacts: Any fires that start will likely spread rapidly and be difficult to control.
Timeline
The Red Flag Warning is effective starting at 11:00 AM MDT today, March 12, 2026. The warning is currently scheduled to expire at 9:00 PM MDT this evening.
Source: NOAA Official Notice
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