Colorado Springs, Colorado – Humidity levels as low as 5 percent will combine with 40 mph wind gusts late Thursday morning, creating explosive fire conditions across southern Colorado through early evening.
According to the National Weather Service in Pueblo, a Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. MST Thursday for southern El Paso County, including Fort Carson and Colorado Springs, as well as Pueblo, Huerfano and western Las Animas counties. Northwest winds will increase to 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph while relative humidity drops between 5 and 10 percent.
Communities at highest risk include Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Walsenburg, Trinidad and Thatcher. With fuels critically dry, any spark could ignite and spread rapidly and erratically, especially across open grasslands and foothill terrain along Interstate 25.
Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Residents should secure trailer chains, avoid parking on dry grass and postpone welding or other spark-producing work.
A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect from Friday morning through Friday afternoon, when gusts up to 30 mph and continued dry air could renew the threat. Additional Red Flag Warnings are possible if conditions intensify.
