textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Critical fire weather conditions are expected over portions of the area every day this week through at least Saturday.

- Chance for some light precipitation and thunder Tuesday afternoon and evening across the eastern mountains and plains.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 1240 PM MDT Mon Mar 9 2026

Breezy west winds continue aloft, with a stronger jet to our north and a cutoff low slowly moving to our south. Gusty surface winds will persist through the rest of today, with temperatures well above average and dry RH values. Red Flag Warnings are in effect through 7pm this evening.

Tonight, winds weaken slightly but retain their westerly component. As a result, overnight lows will be on the warm side over the plains, mainly in the 30s to low-40s, while the valleys sink into the 20s. Meanwhile, RH recovery will be on the low side, with some areas lee of the terrain only reaching 40-50 percent.

Dry and warm conditions will persist on Tuesday, with temperatures in the 60s-70s over most of our CWA. Breezy west winds will continue across the area into the early afternoon, and a few hours of spotty critical fire weather conditions are expected over portions of Fremont County, largely due to gap flow. Conditions are marginal, but given the persistence of conditions the last few days, have upgraded to a Red Flag for that area. Fuels have continued to dry, and with the gap flow enhancements conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread and intensification. Later in the day, the cutoff low to our south will move just south of our region, allowing for the chance for light showers over the southern half of our CWA. That being said, model trends have continued shoving the low further south, and QPF has continued to trend down. Currently only expecting a few isolated, possibly scattered showers over the southern Sangres and other areas south of Highway 50. The passing low will bring a dry cold front down over the plains late in the day into Tuesday evening.

LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 1240 PM MDT Mon Mar 9 2026

Wednesday...Still on track for a cooler, post-frontal day on Weds. High temps should only be in the 50s-60s, with breezy winds and generally dry conditions. Will have to monitor the San Luis Valley for a few hours of critical fire weather conditions in the afternoon.

Thursday Onwards...Not much change to the long term forecast at this time. High pressure will begin building in from the southwest, with breezy northwest flow settling in over our region. Temperatures will warm well above average once again, and conditions will remain dry. Fire weather concerns will greatly increase over the region starting on Thursday. Long-range models do hint at a shortwave passing by late Saturday into Sunday, which could bring us another cold front with some isolated precip chances.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 528 PM MDT Mon Mar 9 2026

VFR conditions expected over the next 24 hours with increasing high cloudiness on Tuesday ahead of a cold front which will push through the terminals just beyond the 24 hr valid TAf period. Gusty west winds this evening will gradually decrease at all three terminals between 02-03z, though enhanced westerly winds will continue near the mountains...affecting KPUB with steady west winds around 10kts overnight. Winds will shift out of the east at KCOS around 10 kts around 16z before shifting from the northwest with gusts to around 25 kts around 22-23z. KPUB and KALS will see increasing west to northwest winds with gusts to around 25 kts in the afternoon. -KT

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning until 7 PM MDT this evening for COZ222-224- 227>231. Red Flag Warning from noon to 7 PM MDT Tuesday for COZ222.