textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Arctic Air continues to push into our plains today, keeping temperatures in the teens for most locations and wind chills near zero. Dangerous cold moves in tonight across our eastern plains.

- Snow chances begin over the high country this morning, where impactful wind driven snow is likely through the weekend. Chances for snow move into the plains this afternoon, though totals will be low end for today.

- Snow and bitter cold continue into Sunday, with snow clearing by Sunday afternoon and evening. Overnight lows on the Plains will fall to near or below zero both Sunday and Monday mornings.

- Slow warm up for Monday into the middle of next week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 233 AM MST Fri Jan 23 2026

Currently..

We remain between two lows, with arctic air continuing to push in across our plains. Winds are easterly as seen on area observations, and temperatures have already fallen into the teens and low 20s across the plains. Dewpoints are in the single digits above zero on the plains and single digits below zero for much of the high country, though some higher locations are in the double digits below zero this morning. MRMS and KPUX do not show any snow in our area quite yet, but snow showers are just west of the La Garitas and central mountains as of 2 AM.

Today and Tonight..

For the high country..Light snow begins over the La Garitas and central mountains early this morning, increasing in coverage and intensity across the high country by this afternoon. Highest snowfall rates for the central mountains will be this evening through the overnight hours, where 8-10 inches of wind driven snow will be possible through early tomorrow morning. Snow continues into tomorrow for the central mountains, though rates decrease after tonight for this area. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the central mountains from 11 AM this morning through 5 AM Sunday. Heaviest rates move south and eastwards into the San Juans and Sangres through the overnight hours, where 4 to 6 inches of new snow will be possible by early Saturday morning. Winter Weather Advisories go into effect for the Sangres and the Wets from 11 AM this morning through 5 AM Sunday, and a Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the San Juans through the same time period. Snow continues across all ranges through Saturday and into early Sunday. Winds gusting to 35 mph will be possible across the high country, leading to dangerous travel and degraded visibility, especially over mountain passes. Apparent temperatures will fall below zero by Saturday morning across many of our ranges as well. If you must travel in the high country today through Sunday, please take extra precautions for snow and dangerously cold temperatures!

On the plains..Though snow is also expected, dangerously cold temperatures are likely to be more impactful on the plains today through Sunday. Arctic air continues to filter in this morning, and most locations will likely achieve their daytime high temperatures in the late morning hours before a secondary push of colder air arrives. Bus stop temperatures will be colder this afternoon than they are this morning! Highs in the mid to upper teens are expected for much of the plains, with a few 20s possible further southwest along the I-25 corridor near Trinidad where the cold push will arrive latest. Single digit highs are possible for northeast Kiowa County. Brisk easterly winds are expected for much of the plains as well, which will keep apparent temperatures near or just below for most of us throughout the afternoon and evening hours. Once the sun sets, wind chills become dangerous for portions of the plains, with readings expected to be around -20 to -25F through the overnight hours. Cold Weather Advisories remain in place from 5 PM this evening through Sunday Morning for Kiowa and Prowers counties. Bent and Baca counties have been added for the same timeframe as well. Counties just west of these locations may also need to be added in the future. Actual temperatures will be near zero for most locations by Saturday morning, with apparent temperatures in the single digits below zero along the I-25 corridor, and teens below zero for other plains locations that are not included in the Cold Weather Advisory. Please remember to give pets shelter from the cold tonight!

Now for the snow forecast. We are all seeing easterly upslope, but it may take some time to wring any moisture out on the plains this morning. Most locations will carry a slight chance to begin to see flurries as early as 7 AM, but better chances will remain further east near the Kansas border through the morning hours. As upslope continues and our dewpoint depression diminishes, better snow chances will gradually work their way westwards into the I-25 corridor and the mountain adjacent plains by this afternoon. Only flurries and trace amounts are expected this afternoon and this evening, and moisture continent will be low, but areas along and west of I-25 and our far eastern plains may see up to an inch through the overnight hours as temperatures drop and snowfall increases in coverage and intensity a bit as we head into tomorrow morning.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 233 AM MST Fri Jan 23 2026

No real changes to much of the extended forecast with good agreement through about Wednesday, with large differences by late next week.

Saturday...very cold conditions with light snow expected for southern Colorado. Very cold air will continue to advect into the region through the day with minimal temperature rise through the afternoon. After morning lows near zero on the Plains, most areas will only see about 10 degrees of warming through the afternoon with highs topping out near 10 degrees. The warmest conditions will be across the San Luis Valley, with upper 20s to low 30s for highs. Low level upslope flow will prevail for much of the day Saturday, before weakening during the afternoon. Snow will be ongoing during the morning, with areas along the Eastern Mountains, into the adjacent Plains seeing persistent snowfall into the afternoon. At this time, and given the cold temperatures, snow ratios will be high, with fluffy snow accumulations through the afternoon. An additional 1 to 3 inches of snow are likely along the I-25 corridor and west into the Eastern Mountains. Mountain areas will continue to see heavier snowfall through the day, with winter weather highlights in place.

Saturday night through Sunday night...the upper trough responsible for the snowfall will continue to track eastward overnight Saturday night into Sunday. Snow will taper down to light flurries, mainly along the Eastern Mountains by the late afternoon into Sunday evening. Any additional snow accumulations will happen Saturday night over the Eastern Mountains with a continued inch or two possible. Snow during the day Sunday will generally by light, with little to no additional accumulation expected. Snow will come to an end by Sunday evening area-wide. As for temperatures, they will continue to be cold! Overnight lows both Saturday and Sunday nights will fall to near or below zero, for much of the region, with the coldest readings Sunday night into Monday morning. Highs on Sunday look to warm into the upper teens to low 20s, but this looks optimistic with snow on the ground, and highs may been to be lowered a few degrees.

Monday into Wednesday...the good news, we will see a warming trend into mid week. After a very cold start Monday morning, upper ridging looks to build across the Great Basin, with northwesterly flow across Colorado. This will help temperatures warm on Monday into the 30s across the Plains, and then into the 40s Tuesday into Wednesday. Highs may need to be adjusted downward on Monday depending on snow cover. A weak embedded wave looks to move across the area Wednesday, but no precipitation is expected through this period at this time.

Thursday into Friday...big differences with the models for late in the work week. The GFS wants to drop another system across the area on Friday, with another round of bitter cold and snow possibilities. The Canadian and ECMWF have more ridging overhead, with an upper low developing along the West Coast. Did not make any changes from the NBM guidance, with temperatures remaining in the 40s, and low pops along the Continental Divide. If the GFS solution pans out, highs would be much colder by Friday, with higher pops on the Plains. Mozley

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1040 PM MST Thu Jan 22 2026

At KALS, VFR the next 24 hrs, with gradually lowering VFR cigs during the day Fri. Winds overnight will be light and variable, before switching to the s-sw and increasing midday Fri, with gusts over 20 kts after 19z.

At KPUB and KCOS, VFR for much of the night, but with a persistent e-se surface wind, expect lower clouds to begin to develop 12z-14z, with MVFR cigs at both sites through the day Fri. Could see some brief IFR cigs and light snow flurries as well (best chance at KCOS), but confidence is too low to include in the taf at this point. Steadier snow develops at both terminals 23z-00z Friday afternoon, continuing through Fri night and into the day on Sat, with MVFR conditions initially, deteriorating to IFR overnight and Sat.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 5 AM MST Sunday for COZ058-060-066-072>075-078>080. Winter Storm Warning from 11 AM this morning to 5 AM MST Sunday for COZ068. Cold Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 8 AM MST Sunday for COZ095>099.