textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Sub-freezing temperatures this morning and again tonight through Sunday morning across the southeast plains. Coldest readings expected this morning.

- Warming temperatures for the weekend through early next week with critical fire weather conditions across the far southeast corner for Sunday and Monday.

- Widespread critical fire weather conditions likely Wednesday and Thursday across much of southern Colorado, with showers over the high country as another system passes to our north.

- Unsettled pattern continues late week into next weekend with a slight cool down and uptick in showers possible.

UPDATE

Issued at 805 AM MDT Sat Apr 18 2026

Expired the freeze warning at 8 AM as temperatures have started to rebound with abundant sunshine this morning, with many locations on the Plains nearing 32 degrees.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 1253 AM MDT Sat Apr 18 2026

It will be a cold morning to start the day with subfreezing temperatures and a Freeze Warning in effect across all of the southeast plains. Otherwise, dry conditions expected over the 24 hour period with temperatures rebounding back into the 60s across the lower elevations with 50s for the valleys and 30s and 40s for the mountains. Gusty northerly winds will pick up this morning across the far eastern plains, but should slacken off in the afternoon as the gradient weakens. There could be some spotty critical fire weather conditions today near the KS border early given low humidity values, but conditions look too brief to warrant a fire weather highlight.

Otherwise, tonight will be cold once again as winds lighten and skies remain mostly clear. Subfreezing temperatures will be a good bet across most or all of the southeast plains once again. Current freeze watch still looks on track and will leave it as is until the current Freeze Warning for this morning expires. Suspect later shifts will be upgrading with the day time package. -KT

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 1253 AM MDT Sat Apr 18 2026

Northwest flow aloft continues for Sunday as the upper ridge axis out west shifts slowly eastward. Lee troughing redevelops with enhanced westerly flow across the lower eastern slopes of the southeast mountains/adjacent plains and on the east side of the lee trough axis across the far east plains. Dew points remain low on Sunday with most areas in the single digits and teens and even some negative single digits across the mountains. This will yield minimum relative humidity values in the 5 to 15 percent range across much of the region, so where winds are strong enough, critical fire weather conditions will be a concern. This looks most likely to occur across the southeast corner of the state, and have issued a Fire Weather Watch for Baca county for Sunday afternoon and evening. Spottier conditions will be possible across the upper Arkansas River Valley, but with ridging moving in aloft, suspect winds will not be gusty enough for a long enough duration to warrant fire weather highlights.

Temperatures continue to warm through next week. Winds decrease for Monday and Tuesday as the upper ridge translates in aloft. Southwesterly flow eventually advects sufficient moisture over the mountains for some high based showers during the afternoon and evening periods, but these won't produce much in the way of precipitation. Temperatures will rebound back into the 80s to near 90 across the southeast plains by Tuesday.

The next Pacific low will move into the western U.S. for mid week and lift to the northeast across the northern U.S. Rockies Wednesday night and Thursday. This puts southern CO under the dry and windy southern sector of the system which will result in another round of strong winds and widespread critical fire weather conditions for Wednesday and Thursday. The Continental Divide will see some increasing showers on Wednesday, and Thursday will be tricky for the plains with the timing of another cold front. But odds for any wetting precipitation look low across the lower elevations both days. Another upper low reloads out west late week into the weekend keeping unsettled conditions across CO. Details are murky at best with differences in timing and track of this system as it takes shape out west and eventually ejects across the Rockies next weekend. Overall, it will be a little cooler with the potential for another uptick in showers, especially for the mountains. -KT

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1108 AM MDT Sat Apr 18 2026

VFR conditions at all three terminals (KALS, KCOS, KPUB) through the next 24 hours. Passing mid and high clouds will impact the region overnight, clearing Sunday morning.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Freeze Watch from 11 PM MDT this evening through Sunday morning for COZ083>089-093>099. Fire Weather Watch from Sunday morning through Sunday evening for COZ237.