textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- A healthy moisture tap will lead to daily showers and thunderstorms across the region through Friday. Best focus will be over our southern mountains and plains.

- Flooding will be possible in any areas that have already received rain or receive multiple rounds of rain.

- Warmer and drier over the weekend.

- Another storm system is expected early next week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 1257 PM MDT Wed Sep 23 2026

Currently...An upper trough of low pressure stretched from Montana to the southwest down across the CA Baja, while a ridge of high pressure was centered over OK, eastern TX and LA. Satellite imagery paints the picture quite explicitly, as a plume of moisture is being drawn up across Mexico, across NM and into CO. Many sites across the forecast area are reporting extensive cloud cover with showers or shower in the vicinity, and temps in the 60s to lower 70s.

Tonight through Thursday...Upper pattern remains somewhat static tonight through Thursday night, as the ridge to the east stays amplified and the south-southwest flow aloft persists. Abundant moisture will interact with numerous embedded shortwaves to produce widespread precipitation for the forecast area. The threat for thunderstorm development is slightly subdued due to the extensive cloud cover and this has more of a stratiform rain look, but any cloud breaks could provide the spark for some isolated thunderstorms later this afternoon and early eve. Shower activity has been on the increase through the day and is expected to peak late tonight and overnight, then shift through the day tomorrow. The Flash Flood Watch for the SW mts remains in effect now through Thursday night, but flooding will be possible in any areas that have already received rain or receive multiple rounds of rain.

Overnight low temps tonight are expected to cool into the 40s to near 50F for the high valleys, and 50s to near 60F for the plains. High temps tomorrow will be very similar to those today, with 60s for the high valleys, and mid 60s to mid 70s for the plains.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1257 PM MDT Wed Sep 23 2026

Friday...On Fri the upper pattern starts to shift slightly as the ridge to the east flattens. This pattern shift will push the moisture plume to the east, as an upper disturbance crosses Colorado, tapping into the available moisture and provide for one more day of shower and thunderstorm activity for the higher terrain and adjacent plains. High temps will climb into the 60s to around 70F for the high valleys, and 70s to near 80F for the plains.

Saturday and Sunday...The upper shortwave pushes east, and a ridge of high pressure builds in for both Sat and Sun. Models continue to show very dry conditions for the area Sat into Sun, then isolated activity returning to the Continental Divide Sunday night as another Pacific trough moves onshore across the West Coast. Temps warm back up into the 70s for the high valleys, and upper 70s to mid 80s for the plains.

Monday and Tuesday: Upper trough crosses the Great Basin and into the Rockies on Monday, then splits apart with the northern piece of energy crossing the Rockies through Tuesday, while the southern piece closes off and drops down into the Desert SW. While this is all occurring, Hurricane Polo will track up the coastline of the CA Baja, feeding moisture up into the Desert SW. If this solution holds true, this will be another chance for some beneficial rainfall across southeast and south central CO. As for temps, Mon will still be a warm one, very similar to Sun, but by Tue high temps will drop as much as 10 to 15 degrees. Moore

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 525 PM MDT Wed Sep 23 2026

Periods of rain will impact all three terminals (KALS, KCOS, KPUB) overnight into Thursday morning. CIGS and VIS will mainly be MVFR, but may briefly fall to IFR with heavier rain showers. There will be a lull in the morning, with showers once again picking up by mid to late afternoon at each terminal.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Flood Watch through Thursday evening for COZ068.