Hot, Gusty Weather Prompts Red Flag Warnings Across Southern Colorado

Overview

• Red Flag Warnings were in effect Saturday for areas west of I‑25 and for parts of southern counties including Pueblo, with fire‑weather watches posted for high‑country zones expected to see elevated risk.
• Forecasters report highs mainly in the 90s with Pueblo near 97–98°F and Colorado Springs around 90°F, keeping fuels dry and increasing ignition risk.
• Winds are a primary concern with sustained breezes and frequent 30–40 mph gusts across plains and high country and isolated 50–55 mph gusts possible in mountain gap zones.
• Humidity this afternoon dropped into the roughly 5–15% range, a level that makes fires start and spread much more easily and that helped the National Weather Service issue warnings.
• Light haze from distant Utah and Arizona wildfires may tint sunsets but is not expected to severely affect air quality; blowing dust from gusts could cut visibility along I‑25 and disrupt travel while the hot, gusty pattern persists into early next week.