The March heat wave continues, with another 80-degree reading midweek. Watch for relief from the freaky temperatures by the weekend. Afternoon winds will help keep the heat in check in the meantime. Here’s more as we officially move into the first full week of spring.
1. Burning up in March
The temperature gauge read 75, 76, 76, 83, and 74 degrees on consecutive days in Alamosa – all new high records for March 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, respectively. All the days this week up till Friday are forecasted to see records, too. Remember, the month opened with back-to-back new high temperatures on March 1 and 2 at 64 and 67 degrees. March 2026 is averaging 63.5 degrees, or more than 10 degrees above normal. The 83-degree reading on Saturday, March 21, was the highest temperature ever recorded in Alamosa for the month of March. April has never seen a temperature that high either, but we haven’t experienced April 2026, yet. February was warm too, with an average temperature of 52.8 degrees. Now the wildfires. . .
2. Costilla County goes into wildfire alert
Costilla County is under Stage 1 fire restrictions, meaning a ban on any campfires and cooking fires, among other prohibitions, following response to the Chama Canyon Fire that has burned 141 acres and caused some evacuation for the county. The Chama Canyon Fire is among the early spring wildfires SLV and Colorado fire crews are battling heading into the week.
3. State of Basin looks at tourism, outdoor recreation
At Adams State this coming Saturday, March 28, is the Eighth Annual Rio Grande State of Basin Symposium. It dives into the opportunities for tourism and outdoor reception as part of its daylong program. Certainly the report by Colorado Division of Water Resources Division 3 Engineer Craig Cotten on the current conditions of the Upper Rio Grande Basin will be words everyone hangs onto. With the spring runoff underway, there is heavy concern among irrigators about the summer water supply. The basin symposium is free to attend. It begins at 8 a.m. at Richardson Hall and runs through 5 p.m.
4. School is in session Downtown
Students who attend Alamosa Alternative High School are showing up Monday morning at their new school on Main Street and San Juan Avenue in Downtown Alamosa. “It is with immense pride that I announce the completion of the Alamosa Alternative and Online School project,” Alamosa School Superintendent Diana Jones said in announcing the school opening. The school district is planning an open house for Wednesday, March 25. Students downtown is one of the changes happening for Alamosa and its downtown merchants.
5. The Valley Pod: Valerie Naranjo
Coming to Adams State in April as a visiting instructor is Valerie Naranjo, home girl from south Alamosa who made it big as a groundbreaking percussionist on Saturday Night Live, Broadway’s The Lion King, and traveling the villages and cities of West African playing the gyil (West African marimba). Listen in as our own Chris Mondragon, an Adams State percussionist, talks to her ahead of her visit in Episode 292 of The Valley Pod. We’re counting down to 300.
6. Save the date: Join us in May
Join us at The Church Project in Monte Vista on May 11 and Shooting Stars Leadership and Cultural Center in Alamosa on May 12 for a conversation and documentary that looks at the development of local news in Colorado, a subject near and dear to our hearts. Presented by the Colorado Media Project, a grant funder of Alamosa Citizen, the evenings in Monte Vista and Alamosa will delve into the importance of local media. Alamosa Citizen founders MaryAnne Talbott and Chris Lopez will host each evening. At The Church Project we will also celebrate the birthday of its founder, Madelyn Ahlborn, and at Shooting Stars we will honor the work of Crystalray and Jamie Dominguez and their efforts in community togetherness. The May events are an opening to a series of community events this year marking the five-year anniversary of Alamosa Citizen. We hope you’ll join us in May and throughout 2026 as we celebrate five years of the Citizen.
7. This week around the Valley:
- Art at Altitude
At the San Luis Valley Regional Airport on Tuesday, March 24, is an unveiling of “Art at Altitude,” a new exhibit by Adams State art students designed to please the traveling public and bring greater community awareness to the airport itself. Alamosa has a stable if not burgeoning airfield, particularly with the growth in service on its private aviation side and Alamosa County’s desire to see other business development around Airport Road. - National Civics Bee
Alamosa is hosting a live quiz civics bee competition for middle school students on Wednesday, March 25. It’s a program supported by Alamosa Chamber of Commerce and Colorado Chamber of Commerce, with finalists moving on to a state competition in July. Students will be tested on their civics knowledge beginning at 9 a.m. at Richardson Hall on the Adams State campus.
8. Remembering Gary Ramstetter
“Ram” is what the students of Alamosa High called wrestling coach and auto shop teacher Gary Ramstetter. Ram was a soft giant as an instructor of young people and for his student-athletes. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, March 28, at the Plachy Hall Fieldhouse at Adams State. It begins at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow at Knee Knockers at the Cattails Golf Course. He was 79 when he passed away on Dec. 27, 2025.