Red flag warning grips Kiowa County before weekend storms move in
A red flag warning covers Kiowa County through 9 p.m. Friday as south winds gusting near 35 mph and single-digit humidity heighten fire danger across Eads and the surrounding plains, forecasters at the National Weather Service in Pueblo said. Highs near 77 are expected Friday before a cold front ushers in cooler, wetter weather and strong chances for showers and thunderstorms Saturday night into Sunday.
Eads is in line for a sunny and breezy afternoon, with highs near 77 and south winds sustained at 20 to 25 mph. Relative humidity is forecast to drop as low as 6 percent across eastern Colorado fire weather zones, including Kiowa County. Winds ease after sunset, and the overnight low is expected near 36 under mostly cloudy skies with southeast winds around 20 mph and gusts to 35.
"Widespread critical fire weather conditions have developed over portions of the high country late this morning, and are expected to continue to spread across the lower elevations as winds increase early this afternoon. Gusts to 45 mph and single digit relative humidity values are likely for much of the area today," meteorologists with the Pueblo forecast office wrote in Friday's Area Forecast Discussion.
Fire weather concerns Friday
The Pueblo office placed Kiowa County and most of the southeastern Colorado plains under a red flag warning until 9 p.m. Friday for gusty winds and low relative humidity. The warning covers fire weather zones 221, 222, 225 through 228, and 231 through 237. Residents are urged to avoid outdoor burning and any activity that could throw sparks. The warning does not extend into Saturday for Kiowa County; Saturday's second red flag warning is limited to zones 220, 224, 229 and 230 in the San Luis Valley, the Upper Arkansas River Valley and west of the Interstate 25 corridor.
Eads, Colo. — Five-day forecast (April 24–28, 2026)
Source: National Weather Service, Pueblo — Issued April 24, 2026
Period | Sky Conditions | High/Low | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Sunny | High 77 | South 20–25 mph |
| Friday night | Mostly cloudy | Low 36 | Southeast 20 mph, gusts 35 mph |
| Saturday | Sunny | High 66 | North-northeast 15–20 mph, gusts 35 |
| Saturday night | Showers and thunderstorms likely | Low 41 | East-northeast 10–20 mph |
| Sunday | Showers and thunderstorms | High 73 | South-southeast 10–20 mph, gusts 35 |
| Sunday night | Chance showers and thunderstorms | Low 40 | West 15–20 mph, gusts 35 |
| Monday | Mostly sunny; slight chance storms | High 67 | North 15 mph |
| Monday night | Chance showers and thunderstorms | Low 33 | East-northeast 10–15 mph |
| Tuesday | Sunny | High 73 | Southeast 10–15 mph |
| Tuesday night | Partly cloudy | Low 39 | East 10–15 mph |
(Kiowa County Press)
Weekend storm chances
A cold front is expected to drop across the region late Friday night and into early Saturday, flipping winds to the north and knocking Saturday highs back into the mid-60s at Eads. Skies stay mostly sunny during the day Saturday, but showers and thunderstorms become likely after midnight with a 70 percent chance of precipitation and rainfall amounts of a tenth to a quarter of an inch possible.
Sunday remains unsettled, with a high near 73 and an 80 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. South-southeast winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts to 35, accompany the precipitation. Rain chances taper Sunday night, with a 40 percent chance of showers and a low around 40.
Monday and Tuesday outlook
Mostly sunny skies return Monday with a high near 67 and a slight chance of afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Overnight lows dip into the low 30s. Tuesday looks sunny and warmer, with highs back near 73 and lighter southeast winds at 10 to 15 mph. Forecasters say another round of active weather is possible later in the week as models hint at a midweek cold front.
Residents and ranchers across Kiowa County should prepare for the Friday fire threat, then watch for lightning and gusty outflow winds with any storms that develop Saturday night and Sunday.
