textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Winter weather highlights continue across the Eastern Mountains with an additional 2-4 inches possible.

- Drying out and warming up for the weekend!

- A series of storm systems will impact the region from early the mid next week, with more mountain snow and rain on the Plains.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 1232 AM MDT Fri May 1 2026

Currently...radar shows widespread showers across the Plains, mainly south of Highway 50 early this morning, while a few light rain showers remain to the north. Snow continues across the higher elevations where Winter Weather Warnings/Advisories remain in place. Temperatures have remained in the 30s and 40s, and will cool slightly through the rest of the overnight hours.

Today and tonight...an upper level trough, extending from Minnesota, southwest across eastern Colorado will continue to track eastward into the Central Plains through this afternoon. Northeasterly low level upslope flow will continue to produce light lower elevation rainfall, and higher elevation snow along the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains, ranges, and Raton Mesa and New Mexico border area through much of the morning hours. Model guidance is in good agreement with this activity ending through mid to late morning as the upper trough shifts east. Upper level ridging over the Great Basin will shift eastward into Colorado by this afternoon. Residual moisture and weak instability, will lead to afternoon showers, mainly along the Continental Divide. A couple lightning strikes could happen given the weak instability. Elevations above 9 kft will see snow. Given the convective nature of the showers, there could be pockets of localized heavy snow, especially across the San Juan Range, which could produce quick accumulations and brief travel issues due to reduced visibility. Caution is advised if you encounter one of these heavier snow showers. Temperatures will begin to rebound this afternoon. with 50s across the San Luis Valley, while the Plains reach through the 50s into the lower 60s.

Winter Weather highlights will fall off across the for northern areas by midday today, and remain in effect for the higher peaks of the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains through this evening. Looking at the latest trends, this may be a bit long, and the day crew may consider pulling them down a bit early if these trends continue. At this time, an additional 2 to 4 inches may be possible, mainly through this morning, with the highest amounts expected over the southern Sangre de Cristo range.

The upper ridge continues to build east into Colorado overnight. Any showers along the Continental Divide look to dissipate this evening once the sun sets and instability decreases. Dry conditions will then prevail into Saturday morning across southern Colorado. Overnight lows will fall off into the lower to mid 30s, and those with sensitive outdoor plants may want to take precautions to protect them.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 1232 AM MDT Fri May 1 2026

Overall, model guidance and ensembles are in good agreement, with the next upper system moving across Colorado by mid week. This will bring another round of mountain snowfall, and rain across the Plains.

Saturday and Sunday...upper level ridging will spread across Colorado over the weekend with continued warming. Temperatures will warm through the 60s and 70s on Saturday, and into the 70s and 80s for Sunday. With the high pressure overhead, winds will be light across the region. Any precipitation chances will remain confined to the higher terrain, with afternoon and evening instability may lead to isolated to scattered showers both days.

Monday through Thursday...a couple of disturbances look to impact the region from early to mid week. The first, is forecast to lift across southern Colorado on Monday, with another, more impactful storm system Tuesday into Wednesday. The first upper system is forecast to eject out of Utah, and into northeast Colorado on Monday. High elevation snow and shower activity will spread into to the Continental Divide by Monday morning, and continue northeast across the Palmer Divide into northern Colorado by Monday evening. Snow will remain confined ot the higher elevations where several inches of may be possible on Monday.

The more impactful storm system will drop out of the northern Plains and send a cold front south into Colorado on Tuesday, and turning low level flow northeasterly upslope by the afternoon. Model and ensemble guidance has been consistent with developing another round of rainfall Tuesday afternoon and through the overnight hours, with the focus along the Eastern Mountains, south into the Raton Mesa. Ensemble spread in QPF amounts have been consistent, with between a quarter and half inch of liquid across the Eastern Mountains, into the Raton Mesa region. Temperatures on the Plains should keep precipitation as rainfall, with snow confined to elevations above 9-10 kft. Precipitation look to come to an end on Wednesday morning, with a few showers remaining possible across the higher terrain. Temperatures will cool of Tuesday, with 50s and 60s for highs on the Plains, cooling further on Wednesday by a few degrees.

Thursday...high pressure builds to the west on Thursday, with northerly flow across Colorado. Weak energy and moisture embedded in the flow will likely lead to afternoon and evening showers across the higher terrain. Temperatures will also begin to rebound, with 70s and lower 80s across the Plains.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 528 AM MDT Fri May 1 2026

KALS...

Light rain and snow will linger over the valley, occasionally passing over the terminal between now and about 15Z. Low MVFR clouds will remain throughout most of the day, with cigs near or below 5kft most of this forecast period. Another chance for light snow this evening as showers move off of the higher terrain, possibly between 02-05Z or so.

KCOS...

Clouds will hover in the low-VFR to MVFR range, with southeast winds most of today. There will be a chance for some showers over the Palmer this afternoon, and though no precipitation is currently expected at KCOS, VCSH was included in the TAF along with briefly lowered clouds. VFR and lighter winds return overnight tonight.

KPUB...

Weak west winds and MVFR to high-IFR clouds this morning. Winds turn southeast by midday, with low clouds decreasing and VFR returning later in the afternoon. Weaker west winds overnight, with MVFR clouds possible for a few hours before we clear into the early hours of Saturday.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory until noon MDT today for COZ058-063- 076-078. Winter Storm Warning until midnight MDT tonight for COZ072>075- 079-080. Winter Storm Warning until noon MDT today for COZ081-082.