899 AXUS45 KPUB 171222 BRTPUB AREA SYNOPSIS AND FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 600 AM MDT SAT MAR 17 2012 COZ085-172300- COLORADO SPRINGS VICINITY/SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE BELOW 7400 FT- INCLUDING...COLORADO SPRINGS 600 AM MDT SAT MAR 17 2012 .NOW... A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST COLORADO FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT TODAY, AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY. GUSTY WINDS AND DRY FUELS WILL LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR WITH RAPID FIRE GROWTH AND SPREAD. SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM ACROSS COLORADO TODAY, WITH WARM AND DRY WEATHER EXPECTED AS AREA TEMPERATURES APPROACH RECORD LEVELS ONCE AGAIN ACROSS MUCH OF EASTERN COLORADO. STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH THE DRY AND WARM WEATHER TO BRING EXTREME FIRE DANGER TO THE EASTERN PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A NEW STORM SYSTEM WILL PUSH INTO WESTERN COLORADO TONIGHT WITH INCREASING MOISTURE SPREADING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHERN VALLEYS. THE BEST CHANCE OF SNOW IS EXPECTED ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTINENTIAL DIVIDE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY, WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION IN THE SAN LUIS VALLEY. THIS SYSTEM WILL ALSO HELP TO SPREAD A SLIGHTLY COOLER AIRMASS BACK ACROSS THE STATE SUNDAY, WITH EVEN COOLER WEATHER SPREADING ACROSS EASTERN COLORADO BEHIND A COLD FRONT THAT WILL PASS THROUGH THE REGION ON MONDAY. THE FORECAST FOR THE PIKES PEAK, TELLER COUNTY AND THE RAMPART RANGE. SKIES WILL BE SUNNY TODAY, WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM 33 TO 68 DEGREES. WINDS WILL BE OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH, INCREASING TO 15 TO 30 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. $$ COZ083-086-087-172300- CANON CITY VICINITY/EASTERN FREMONT COUNTY- PUEBLO AND VICINITY/PUEBLO COUNTY BELOW 6300 FT- WALSENBURG VICINITY/UPPER HUERFANO RIVER BASIN BELOW 7500 FT-INCLUDING...CANON CITY...PENROSE...PUEBLO...WALSENBURG 600 AM MDT SAT MAR 17 2012 .NOW... A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST COLORADO FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT TODAY, AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY. GUSTY WINDS AND DRY FUELS WILL LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR WITH RAPID FIRE GROWTH AND SPREAD. SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM ACROSS COLORADO TODAY, WITH WARM AND DRY WEATHER EXPECTED AS AREA TEMPERATURES APPROACH RECORD LEVELS ONCE AGAIN ACROSS MUCH OF EASTERN COLORADO. STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH THE DRY AND WARM WEATHER TO BRING EXTREME FIRE DANGER TO THE EASTERN PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A NEW STORM SYSTEM WILL PUSH INTO WESTERN COLORADO TONIGHT WITH INCREASING MOISTURE SPREADING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHERN VALLEYS. THE BEST CHANCE OF SNOW IS EXPECTED ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTINENTIAL DIVIDE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY, WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION IN THE SAN LUIS VALLEY. THIS SYSTEM WILL ALSO HELP TO SPREAD A SLIGHTLY COOLER AIRMASS BACK ACROSS THE STATE SUNDAY, WITH EVEN COOLER WEATHER SPREADING ACROSS EASTERN COLORADO BEHIND A COLD FRONT THAT WILL PASS THROUGH THE REGION ON MONDAY. THE FORECAST FOR THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, THE WET MOUNTAINS AND THE WET MOUNTAIN VALLEY. SKIES WILL BE MOSTLY SUNNY TODAY, WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM 34 TO 73 DEGREES. WINDS WILL BE OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH, INCREASING TO 15 TO 30 MPH, WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 IN THE AFTERNOON. $$ COZ070-172300- ALAMOSA VICINITY/CENTRAL SAN LUIS VALLEY BELOW 8500 FT- INCLUDING...ALAMOSA...MONTE VISTA 600 AM MDT SAT MAR 17 2012 .NOW... THE FORECAST FOR THE SANGRE DE CRISTO, EASTERN SAN JUAN AND LA GARITA MOUNTAINS. SKIES WILL BE MOSTLY SUNNY TODAY, WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM 34 TO 68 DEGREES. WINDS WILL BE OUT OF THE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH, INCREASING TO 15 TO 30 MPH, WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 IN THE AFTERNOON. $$ COZ097-098-172300- LAS ANIMAS VICINITY/BENT COUNTY-LAMAR VICINITY/PROWERS COUNTY- INCLUDING...LAS ANIMAS...LAMAR 600 AM MDT SAT MAR 17 2012 .NOW... A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST COLORADO FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT TODAY, AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY. GUSTY WINDS AND DRY FUELS WILL LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR WITH RAPID FIRE GROWTH AND SPREAD. $$