Pueblo, Colorado – Anyone planning outdoor work, recreation or travel across southern Colorado should prepare for a dangerous combination of heat, dry air and strong winds by Wednesday afternoon, conditions that could allow any new fire start to spread rapidly.
According to the National Weather Service in Pueblo, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Wednesday afternoon and evening across portions of the southern mountains, valleys and adjacent plains, including areas along the Interstate 25 corridor. Wind gusts could reach 40 mph while humidity levels fall below 15 percent amid increasingly dry vegetation.
The elevated fire threat stretches across portions of Fremont, Custer, Huerfano, Las Animas, Alamosa and surrounding counties. Officials are urging residents to avoid activities that could create sparks, including outdoor burning, dragging chains, improperly discarded cigarettes and the use of equipment that could ignite dry grass.
The fire danger arrives as temperatures climb sharply through midweek. Pueblo is expected to reach around 103 degrees Wednesday, while Canon City could approach 99 degrees and Colorado Springs nears 97 degrees. Communities across the Arkansas Valley and southeast plains will experience some of the hottest conditions of the week.
A few thunderstorms remain possible across southern portions of the southeast plains before the hottest and driest air settles into the region. Residents should stay alert for updated fire weather statements and possible Red Flag Warnings as Wednesday approaches.
