For Independence Day, Colorado Springs residents can expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 85. 

Wind will be out of the south southeast, increasing to 5 to 10 mph as the day goes on. 

There is a slight chance for thunderstorms after 1 p.m. The National Weather Service forecasts less than a tenth of an inch of new rainfall, though this may be higher in some areas. 

An air quality alert, issued due to fires burning in Colorado, expired at 9 a.m.

Further south, in Colorado City and Rye, where the Aspen Acres Fire continues to burn, NWS forecasts a 10% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 p.m. It will be mostly sunny with a high near 88.

The chance of rain brings the risk of lightning and high winds. 

“Outflow winds can be erratic, gusting from 45-55 mph and can travel quite a distance from the storm cells,” said a morning update on the Aspen Acres Fire 2026 Facebook page. “Thunderstorms are expected to begin in the mid-afternoon to the northwest and east of the fire, increasing the chances of lightning.” 

Many areas of heat remain, and as relative humidity drops back into single digits in the afternoon, fire officials said these areas will be a concern as storm cells form. 

Here’s the forecast for Colorado Springs from the National Weather Service: 

• Today: A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Patchy smoke after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Light south southeast wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Patchy smoke before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind around 5 mph becoming south southeast after midnight.
  
• Tomorrow: A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
  
• Monday: A 10% chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
  
• Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
  
• Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Here’s the forecast for the Colorado City area: 

• Today: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Widespread smoke, mainly between 10am and 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Overnight, a 10% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Areas of smoke before midnight, then patchy smoke after 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight.
  
• Tomorrow: A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 4pm. Areas of smoke before 7am. Increasing clouds, with a high near 90. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the morning.
  
• Monday: Sunny, with a high near 94. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the morning.
  
• Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
  
• Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Sunny, with a high near 95. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon.