Todays Forecast:While it might sound like a broken record by now - fire danger is still high, again, today. This is the 75thday of the year with Red Flag Warnings somewhere in southern Colorado. The 20-year average is 43 days pe r year.Today, it will not be as windy today as in the last few days as upper-level winds weaken slightly. At the same time, a building ridge to the east will push the burner up another couple of notches today and temperatures will climb today - most of the plains hits the 90s, with some triple digit heat too! Humidity will be lower today than it was yesterday - down to 4% or even lower by the afternoon. Red Flag Warnings will be in effect from 10:00 AM - Midnight.An Air Quality Alert is in place through 9:00 AM, but this may be extended...either immediately or this afternoon, as fire activity ramps up again at Aspen Acres. Today's winds will be southwesterly at 10-20 mph, gusting to 30 mph mainly during the afternoon. Conditions at the fire will be locally worse. Temperature contrasts drive wind. The hot, large fire, will enhance wind speeds within its local vicinity. This is part of what makes firefighting so difficult with these types of fires.Weak upslope flow this evening across the plains will push smoke back toward the I-25 corridor, meaning smoke will thicken up close to sunset wherever it isn't thick during the afternoon. Meanwhile, some of the stronger mountain wind gusts of the day will likely occur closer to sunset into the evening hours.A few strong storms are also possible today over the far eastern counties, primarily in Prowers and Baca. These are most likely in the 1-2 PM time frame, before moving east into Kansas by mid-afternoon.Colorado Springs forecast: High: 92; Low: 57.RED FLAG WARNING in effect 10:00 AM - MidnightA sunny, smokey, hot day ahead for the second day of July, with slightly less consistent wind than earlier in the week. The wind will be northerly this morning, and will decrease in speed through the morning with early gusts to 20 mph decreasing to near 10-15 mph at lunch time. Then, the wind will shift south southwest this afternoon and increase due to an upper level system. Expect afternoon winds of 10-20 mph, gusting to 30 mph. Incredibly dry dessert like air drops humidity to the single digits at times.Pueblo forecast: High: 97; Low: 58.RED FLAG WARNING in effect 10:00 AM - MidnightSunny with smoke - consistently through the day, but thickest in the morning and mid-afternoon to evening, and least thick at lunchtime. A quick walk with the dog, and indoor exercise, are still what I'd suggest today. Smoke from the Aspen Acres fire will be blown through the city yet again today, and it is bad for your health to breathe. It will be HOT this afternoon too. Humidity will plunge down into the low single digits, with southwesterly afternoon winds. Sustained speeds of 10-20 mph, gusting periodically to 30 mph. Fire danger of course remains very high.Also - if you are in the position to lend a hand to evacuees, please consider doing so. Thousands of evacuees are in the area. While we can't all fight the fire ourselves, we can be kind to our friends and neighbors.Canon City forecast: High: 95; Low: 59.RED FLAG WARNING in effect 10:00 AM - MidnightPeriods of smoke, from various wildfires in the state, and very hot. West southwest winds, at 10-20 mph, gusting to 30 mph at times.Woodland Park forecast: High: 81; Low: 47.RED FLAG WARNING in effect 10:00 AM - MidnightWarm with periodic smoke, and otherwise plenty of sunshine. A few afternoon clouds is the only interruption to that picture. Southwest winds at 10-15 mph gusting to 30 mph.Tri-Lakes forecast: High: 80s; Low: 50s.RED FLAG WARNING in effect 10:00 AM - MidnightPeriodic smoke, thickest tonight. Otherwise sunny and hot with AM winds out of the north at 10-15 mph decreasing in consistency before lunchtime. Then, increasing winds out of the south southwest this afternoon at 10-20 mph, particularly toward Black Forest, with some sporadic 30 mph gusts.Plains forecast: High: 90s/100s; Low: 60s.Sizzling heat today on the plains, along with the chance for more isolated thunderstorms. Like yesterday, a few could be severe, with strong wind gusts to 70 mph possible, along with isolated quarter sized hail. Unlike yesterday, the storms are early - in the 1-3 PM time frame, before they quickly race east into Kansas. Otherwise, expect a breezy day with southwest winds at 10-20 mph gusting to 35 mph.Walsenburg and Trinidad forecast: High: 91/95; Low: 57.RED FLAG WARNING in effect 10:00 AM - MidnightSunny and hot with southwest winds at 10-20 mph, gusting 30-35 mph this afternoon.Mountains forecast: High: 80s; Low: 50s.RED FLAG WARNING in effect 10:00 AM - MidnightSmoke remains the main story, with the Aspen Acres Fire likely to display enhanced growth potential again today due to hot temperatures, single digit relative humidity, and afternoon southwesterly winds. The overall wind profile favors 10-20 mph winds, gusting to 35 mph. However, locally at the fire, the heat and terrain will enhance wind speeds somewhat and lead to a continuation of the erratic wind profile of the last few days.Extended outlook forecast:Red Flag Warnings return again Friday, once again from 10:00 AM - Midnight. Winds will be even less consistent than today as a heat dome continues to slowly drift east and low pressure pulls further north - weakening upper level winds. But, a secondary mid-level high will develop over northern Mexico, keeping the winds just strong enough to keep the threat for quick fire growth high. Highs get even toastier - Friday will be hottest day of the week! Afternoon winds remain out of the southwest, at 10-20 mph, gusting 25-35 mph.We see a slight cooldown on July 4thbut only by a few degrees, with an isolated shower or thunderstorm possible during the afternoon. This sounds good, but it remains to be seen if we have enough low-level moisture for much rain to reach the ground.Moisture will increase beginning on Sunday, leading to low but daily afternoon chances for thunderstorms next week and slightly better firefighting conditions. It will still be hot though with highs in the 90s in Colorado Springs.____Curious about the First Alert 5 Weather Storm Impact Scale? 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