textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Moderate to strong northerly flow aloft keeps chances of light snow across the Central mountains and near seasonal temperatures today.

- Warming trend into mid week with warmest and potentially record breaking temperatures late week into the early weekend.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 1243 AM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

Current water vapor imagery and upper air analysis has moderating northwest flow aloft across the region, as our passing system and jet core is carving out a broad upper trough across the Upper Midwest, with more short wave energy translating across the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West at this time. Said passing wave has kept enough uvv and moisture in place to keep light snow showers in place across the Pikes Peak region this evening, with latest radar trends indicating echoes fading as the wave continues to translate east. Otherwise, starting to see increasing mid and upper level moisture pushing across Western Colorado ahead of the next wave across the Intermountain West.

For today and tonight, we will continue to see slow warming aloft with continued bouts of mid and high level moisture streaming across the Rockies. The north to northwest flow and increasing moisture will develop scattered snow showers across the Central mountains through the day with showers diminishing through tonight, as moisture fades overnight. Snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches look possible through tonight, with the snow mainly expected across the higher terrain north of Cottonwood Pass. Will see breezy northerly winds of 15 to 35 mph over and near the higher terrain today, which could produce elevated fire weather conditions across the San Luis Valley. However, with increasing available moisture, we do not anticipate critical fire weather conditions developing across the district at this time.

As for temperatures, should see highs warming back to near seasonal levels in the mid 40s to mid 50s across the plains, with 30s, 40s and 50s expected across the mountains and high mountain valleys. Overnight lows will be warmer than today, mainly in the 20s areawide, save for some 30s across the banana belt.

LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 1243 AM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

A significant warming trend starts on Tuesday, as upper level ridging across the southern California Coast starts to build into the Desert Southwest. Latest model data is in good agreement of developing a strong 595DM upper high across the Desert Southwest by Thursday, which meanders across the Southern Rockies through Saturday before being pushed south and west by short wave energy translating across the Northern Tier into early next week. While winds are expected to be generally light with the building ridge, we can't rule out some spotty elevated fire weather conditions with the very warm temperatures and expected dry conditions.

Again, while models keep the the warmest air across the Desert Southwest, unseasonably warm air associated with the building ridge will move across the Rockies through the weekend, which will likely challenge daily record high temperatures (see climate section) from mid week on, along with the potential to set March monthly record highs of 76F in Alamosa, 81F in Colorado Springs and 86F in Pueblo.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 524 AM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

KALS: VFR expected through 24 hours. Winds will shift out of the northwest by about 19Z, with gusts up to 25 knots or so through this evening.

KCOS: Patchy MVFR clouds will stick around for a few more hours, with VFR and diurnal wind patterns returning to the terminal the rest of the period. Mid to high level clouds are expected to remain through the period as well.

KPUB: VFR conditions expected through 24 hours. Winds will shift east-southeast today, with scattered mid to high level clouds.

CLIMATE

Issued at 447 AM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

LCD sites March 17th-21st Record Highs Issued at 1243 AM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

ALS...Tue...Mar 17...70F...2017 ALS...Wed...Mar 18...73F...2017 ALS...Thu...Mar 19...72F...1907 ALS...Fri...Mar 20...72F...2004 ALS...Sat...Mar 21...72F...1997

COS...Tue...Mar 17...74F...1908 COS...Wed...Mar 18...80F...2017 COS...Thu...Mar 19...80F...2017 COS...Fri...Mar 20...76F...2017 COS...Sat...Mar 21...75F...1995

PUB...Tue...Mar 17...80F...2007 PUB...Wed...Mar 18...85F...2017 PUB...Thu...Mar 19...86F...2017 PUB...Fri...Mar 20...84F...2017 PUB...Sat...Mar 21...82F...2016

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.