May brought a mixed bag of weather to Colorado: thunderstorms, hail, above-average precipitation in the center of the state, river flooding in the north from melting snow, and even conditions dry enough over the southeast plains to fuel wildfire danger. For June, the National Weather Service’s prediction isn’t much different.

This month is expected to bring above-normal temperatures across the far southeastern plains, somewhat higher precipitation levels across northern portions of the eastern plains, and ongoing fire danger.

A red flag warning is scheduled to go into effect Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for southeast and south-central Colorado, including El Paso County, and the southeast plains. Temperatures are expected to reach the upper 80s in Colorado Springs, coupled with relative humidity levels and 30 mph to 40 mph winds throughout El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, Las Animas, Crowley, Otero, Kiowa, Bent and Prowers counties, according to the weather service.

Even with the extra moisture on the ground from recent May rains, fuels such as thick brushes, logs and branches need longer periods – even months – of extended moisture to return to normal, and new grasses that sprouted from the rainfall can carry fire quickly, said Colorado Springs fire Capt. Steve Oswald.

“Smaller, flashy fuels such as grass and wildflowers that are growing with the rains also dry out quickly, so higher temperatures and stronger winds can cause those to ignite immediately,” Oswald said. “A couple of days of high temperatures and low relative humidity levels, coupled with the lightning in thunderstorms, make everything susceptible to wildfires.”

The weather service reported that 2.56 inches of precipitation fell over Colorado Springs in May, which is .53 inches higher than normal levels for the month. The increase from May 2013 was even more significant, when precipitation levels were well below average, at 1.14 inches, according to weather service records.

“There has been some green-up in western El Paso County, but fire fuels in the eastern portion of the county are still being reported as critical,” meteorologist Kathy Torgerson said. “Even in the western part of the county, people need to be careful because larger fuels such as logs and brushes can still carry fire very quickly.”

Several years of a long-standing drought that affected most of Colorado left plenty of larger fuels primed to ignite, fire officials said. According to the most recent reports published May 15, ponderosa pines were at 89 percent of average moisture levels in the northern end of Colorado Springs near Mt. St. Francis in Peregrine and at 81 percent in the south of the city, by Cheyenne Mountain, said Lt. Greg Martinez.

“Even at 89 percent, those pines are right on the edge of extreme fire behavior potential,” Martinez said. “Moisture in the air and higher humidity levels will make those harder to start burning, but the danger is there.”

Temperatures in Colorado Springs were generally at or a bit above normal for May.

A car navigates through high water on East Uintah Street near Cascade Avenue after a storm dropped heavy rain and large hail across the region Wednesday, May 21, 2014. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette

Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette