Red flag conditions and gusty winds are expected to dominate the week in Kiowa County, with temperatures well above seasonal norms through Thursday before a cold front arrives late in the week. The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag Warning that includes Kiowa County for both Monday and Tuesday, citing dangerous fire weather conditions across southeastern Colorado.

Monday brings mostly sunny skies to Eads with a high near 78 degrees and west-southwest winds of 15 to 20 mph gusting to 30 mph. The Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, with relative humidity dropping as low as 10 percent across the warning area. Conditions are expected to remain mostly clear overnight with lows near 43 degrees.

Eric Petersen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Pueblo forecast office, wrote in Monday’s Area Forecast Discussion that “gust potential looks a bit higher than Sun over the mountains and San Luis Valley,” noting that an upper-level trough moving through the Great Basin is driving the warm, dry and windy pattern across the region.

Fire danger elevated through midweek

The Red Flag Warning issued by the Pueblo office explicitly includes Kiowa County’s fire weather zone for both Monday and Tuesday. Southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph, combined with relative humidity as low as 10 percent, create conditions under which fires could spread rapidly and erratically. Residents are urged to avoid outdoor burning and any activity that could produce sparks.

A second round of Red Flag conditions returns Tuesday, with the warning in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Pueblo office noted that the fire weather watch has been upgraded to a warning for Tuesday as an approaching cold front tightens the pressure gradient and strengthens winds ahead of its passage.

Eads, Colo. — Five-day forecast (April 13–17)

Source: National Weather Service, Pueblo — Issued April 13, 2026

(Kiowa County Press)

Midweek cool-down brings brief relief

Tuesday’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 76 degrees, though breezy conditions persist with southwest winds increasing to 15 to 20 mph and gusts reaching 35 mph. A slight chance of showers arrives Tuesday night as the upper-level trough moves overhead, but accumulations are expected to be negligible. Overnight lows drop to 35 degrees.

Wednesday offers a brief reprieve with lighter winds and sunny skies. The high is expected near 72 degrees with west-northwest winds of 10 to 15 mph. Overnight lows settle near 36 degrees under mostly clear skies.

Extended outlook: warmth returns, then wind

Thursday brings a return to well-above-normal temperatures, with highs climbing to 81 degrees under sunny skies. Winds increase through the afternoon with gusts to 30 mph from the west-southwest, and the Pueblo forecast office flagged Thursday as another day of high fire danger statewide as a second trough approaches.

Friday brings the strongest winds of the week, with sustained west-southwest winds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts reaching 40 mph. The high cools to 72 degrees as the system moves through. Models suggest substantially colder air follows into the weekend, with widespread freezing temperatures possible Saturday and Sunday mornings.

The Climate Prediction Center’s 6–10 day outlook for April 18–22 shows southeastern Colorado in a zone favoring above-normal temperatures, with near-normal precipitation. The 8–14 day outlook covering April 20–26 continues the above-normal temperature signal while tilting slightly toward above-normal precipitation, suggesting the active weather pattern may deliver additional moisture chances toward the end of the month.

Fire safety reminder

With Red Flag conditions returning multiple times this week, the National Weather Service urges residents to comply with all burn bans, avoid driving through dry grass, and ensure vehicle safety chains do not drag on pavement. Any fires that develop under these conditions may grow and spread rapidly.