textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Fire Weather conditions are forecast for parts of the area Tuesday and again Wednesday.

- Light snow along the Continental Divide, with the highest totals north of Cottonwood Pas Tuesday into Thursday morning.

- Temperatures will remain mild, with 60s and 70s across the region, the coolest day looks to be Thursday (still 50s and 60s).

UPDATE

Issued at 454 PM MST Mon Feb 23 2026

Quick update to the forecast database for inclusion of Fremont County, Fire Zone 222, in the Red Flag Warning for tomorrow from 10 AM until 6 PM. Moore

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 1147 AM MST Mon Feb 23 2026

Currently...broad northwesterly flow prevails across southern Colorado early this afternoon. This has led to the development of wave clouds off the Eastern Mountains, spreading into the I-25 corridor. Temperatures range from the lower 60s along the lee slopes of the Eastern Mountains, to mid 40s along the lower Arkansas River Valley.

Rest of Today and Tonight...not much change to the upper pattern, with increasing northwesterly flow aloft across the region. Afternoon highs today will top out into the mid 60s west of I-25, and mid to upper 50s east, with the San Luis Valley reaching the mid 50s. Temperatures will cool this evening, with overnight lows falling into the teens across the San Luis Valley, and 30s and 40s across the Plains. Areas along the mid slopes of the Eastern Mountains will see the lows in the 40s.

Tuesday...northwesterly flow will continue across southern Colorado, with an embedded wave dropping southeast across the area. This will lead to a few snow showers across the Central Mountains by the afternoon. Snow accumulations will be minor, with an inch or two possible north of Cottonwood Pass.

Across the Plains, mixing will bring gusty winds, low humidity values and warm temperatures by the afternoon. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for the I-25 corridor, east into the Plains for westerly winds gusting 30 to 35 mph, and humidity values around 10 percent. Any fires that start could spread rapidly. Temperatures will be warm with 70s across the Plains, with perhaps a couple low 80s near Springfield. The San Luis Valley will see highs in the upper 50s to lower 60s.

LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 1147 AM MST Mon Feb 23 2026

Tuesday night...continued northwesterly flow aloft will prevail overnight, with generally mild temperatures across the Plains. Lows will fall into the upper teens to lower 20s for the San Luis Valley, while the Plains see 40s along the lee slopes of the Eastern Mountains, and 30s for the Lower Arkansas River Valley. Light snow will also continue over the Central Mountains with another couple of inches possible by morning.

Wednesday and Wednesday night...the next embedded upper wave will drop across Colorado, with another round of fire weather conditions possible. Winds will be gusty, out of the west, with gusts near 45 mph possible along the I-25 corridor. Humidity values will be slightly more elevated, hovering around 15 percent. Given the expected stronger winds, issued a Fire Weather Watch for the I-25 corridor for Wednesday afternoon. Temperatures will remain warm, with mostly 70s on the Plains, and 60s across the San Luis Valley. As the upper wave moves across the region, snow will spread south along the Continental Divide, with a few inches of light snow possible through the day.

A cold front looks to arrive by early Wednesday evening, shifting winds northerly overnight. Model guidance keeps persistent light snow going along the Continental Divide, favoring areas north of Cottonwood Pass. Overall, snow amounts through the Tuesday night to Wednesday night period look to be int he 3 to 6 inch range, with the highest totals north of Cottonwood Pass. Overnight lows will fall into the teens and 20s across the San Luis Valley, and 30s across the Plains.

Thursday into Monday...the upper level high pressure will slowly shift eastward into the weekend, with flow turning more westerly. Overall, not much in the way of precipitation expected, with snow tapering off across the Central Mountains Thursday morning. Temperatures on Thursday will be slightly cooler with mostly 60s on the Plains. Beyond, highs will climb back into the upper 60s to mid 70s across the Plains. The next upper wave looks to impact the region late Sunday into Monday, with a decent cold front possible, and out next chance for precipitation across the region.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 432 PM MST Mon Feb 23 2026

VFR conditions anticipated across the forecast area over the next 24 hrs, including the three main TAF sites of KCOS, KPUB and KALS. Periods of mid and high level cloudiness will continue over the next 24 hrs. Westerly surface winds will start increasing for all areas between 16z-18z Tue, with gusts to 28-32 kts expected for KCOS and KPUB after 19z. Mentioned wind shear for KPUB between 14z-17z.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from 10 AM to 6 PM MST Tuesday for COZ222- 227>233-237. Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday morning through Wednesday afternoon for COZ227>230-232-233.