The El Paso County sheriff on Friday lifted fire restrictions that had been in place for over a week in unincorporated parts of the county amid record-breaking highs in the region. In lifting the restrictions, which began Dec. 17, Sheriff Joseph Roybal warned that fire danger is still a threat. “The threat of wildland fires is a risk I take seriously and must mitigate. As we lift the (restrictions), I ask all of our citizens to continuously exercise care and due caution in preventing wildfires, especially when smoking outside, using campfires, grills, being around open flames or engaging in other fire-related activities,” Roybal said via email. Winter weather to return after more heat According to the National Weather Service in Pueblo, conditions are forecast to be “very” warm and dry across the plains through Saturday. Temperatures are expected to be in the 60s and low 70s on Friday and then in the upper 50s to low 70s Saturday. After that, the Weather Service says there will be a “dramatic shift” for Sunday as a strong cold front pushes through. Snow will return to the mountains Friday night and last through the weekend. The weather for Dec. 26-28. (Courtesy of National Weather Service) By Sunday, the agency expects snow showers to be likely in Colorado Springs between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Current data shows that as much as 1 to 2 inches could fall across the city. The high will be near 29 degrees, and there will be winds as strong as 30 mph. The cold could drop to the low teens by Monday morning, according to meteorologist Alan Rose of Gazette news partner KOAA. However, highs will rebound back into the 50s by Tuesday, with dry skies forecast for the start of the new year. The dramatic drop in temperature follows several record-breaking highs across the region, according to Weather Service data. On Christmas, the Colorado Springs Airport reached a temperature of 71 degrees, shattering the previous record of 67 set in 1955 and 1971. In Pueblo, the high was 75 degrees, breaking the previous record of 72 degrees that was also set in 1971. Alamosa reached 61 degrees on Thursday, slightly above the previous record of 60 degrees recorded in 1942. ...read more read less