Red Flag Warning Issued for Upper Arkansas River Valley: Critical Fire Conditions Expected Wednesday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Upper Arkansas River Valley. This alert signifies that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers Fire Weather Zone 220, which includes the following geographic regions in Colorado:

• Upper Arkansas River Valley
• Lake County
• Chaffee County

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to exercise extreme caution with any outdoor burning. Because fires will catch and spread quickly under these conditions, the NWS recommends that individuals prepare for potential fire hazards and avoid activities that could spark a blaze.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions in the valley are expected to reach critical thresholds for fire danger:

• Winds: Northwest winds between 15 to 25 mph, with gusts reaching as high as 45 mph.
• Relative Humidity: Levels are expected to drop as low as 13 percent.
• Impacts: Any fires that start will likely spread rapidly and be difficult to control.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective starting at 1:00 PM MDT this afternoon, March 11, 2026. The alert is scheduled to remain in effect until 7:00 PM MDT this evening.