Readiness
Active Weather
Flooding in southern Colorado and southeast Utah, fire weather on the northern Plains, and wind and snow in Montana. A busy day across a wide area.
The Grand Junction and Pueblo offices have flood warnings this morning across southwest Colorado, including Montezuma, La Plata, Archuleta, San Miguel, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Conejos counties, after heavy rain overnight. Flood watches run through tonight for the San Juan Mountains and the Upper Rio Grande Valley, and the Rio Grande County warning runs until 6 PM Sunday. In Utah, flood warnings cover San Juan, Grand, Garfield, Kane, Emery, Sevier, and Wayne counties this morning. The Storm Prediction Center includes southern Colorado in today's slight risk of severe storms, with hail the main threat.
Red flag warnings, meaning conditions where any fire can spread fast, are in effect today for Campbell, Crook, Weston, and Johnson counties in Wyoming; Butte County and the northern Black Hills foothills in South Dakota; Slope and Bowman counties in North Dakota; and the Northern Cheyenne and Ashland area of southeast Montana. Avoid any outdoor burning in those areas today.
High wind warnings cover north central Montana, including Hill, Liberty, Toole, and eastern Glacier counties, and Fergus County, along with Carbon County, Wyoming. Winter weather advisories cover the mountains of west and central Montana and Judith Gap, with the season's first accumulating snow on passes. Campbell County, Wyoming has an air quality alert until 7 PM.
Infrastructure
Utah has a federal major disaster declaration from October 7 for the Cottonwood fire, flooding, and mudslides, covering public assistance. The Bras fire near Hot Springs, Montana is at 1,688 acres and 45 percent contained, with minimal fire behavior. Expect slow travel over Montana's mountain passes today.
Public Health
Campbell County, Wyoming is under an air quality alert until 7 PM. People with lung conditions should limit time outdoors there today. No other public health advisories found for the Mountain region.
Food recalls posted by the Food and Drug Administration this week include Gelatelli coffee and vanilla gelato sold at Lidl for possible Listeria, Starfish Seafood cold smoked salmon for possible Listeria, and Family Farmstead raw mild cheddar cheese for possible E. coli. The full list, with lot codes, is at fda.gov/recalls.
Two sources we check could not be read this morning: the CDC Health Alert Network, for national health advisories, and AirNow, for air quality readings. Check emergency.cdc.gov/han and airnow.gov directly.
Watch Item
Saturday's Weather Prediction Center outlook keeps a slight risk of excessive rainfall over southern Colorado. Early next week, it expects another system to move from the central Rockies into the Upper Midwest with rain and snow.
Snow on Montana's passes in late October is a reminder to put the winter kit back in the car: a blanket, a scraper, a flashlight, and something to eat.
Living Ready
Colorado LEAP heating assistance opens November 1
Colorado's Low-income Energy Assistance Program opens its application window on November 1. Households with income at or below 60 percent of state median income can apply online through PEAK or by calling 1-866-HEAT-HELP.
Colorado · Source: Larimer County Department of Human Services, program page, current season
Montana: one application for heating help and weatherization
Montana's LIHEAP heating season runs October 1 through April 30, and weatherization help can be requested at any time. A combined application covers both. You can fill it out online, but it has to be printed and delivered or mailed to your local eligibility office.
Montana · Source: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, program page, current season
Explore Today
What a red flag warning means for your property and your plans.
Flash floods in canyon country move fast. What to know before the next round.
Snow on the passes means it is time to put the winter kit back in the car.