textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Wind-driven snow to continue across the higher terrain today, with a focus along the Continental Divide and especially the eastern San Juan Mts. Plains to remain dry and exceptionally warm.

- Above normal temperatures and dry conditions continue through Saturday for most locations, with light snow persisting over the San Juans

- A cold front arrives Saturday night into Sunday morning, bringing cooler temperatures and better chances for moisture for all areas, though amounts are low end.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 213 AM MST Thu Dec 25 2025

Currently...Brisk southwest flow aloft in place across the region, with snow reported over the sw mts and satellite imagery showing enhanced cloud cover over the higher terrain. Temps have cooled into the 30s and 40s for most locations as of 1 AM, but a few of the more wind-prone areas were still reporting temps in the 50s.

Today and tonight...Not a lot of change over the next 24 hrs, providing for a very warm Christmas day for many, while the mts get a taste of snow.

The upper Pacific trough remains centered just off the West Coast, which in turn keeps strong southwest flow aloft locked in across the Four Corners region. Moisture streaming into western CO will help produce snow for the higher terrain, with a focus along the Continental Divide. Snowfall should remain light, briefly moderate at times, but the steady enhanced southwest winds will produce areas of blowing and drifting snow, and reduced visibility, especially across Wolf Creek Pass. Total snow amounts through Fri morning are forecast to be in the 3 to 6 inch range for the eastern San Juans, 2 to 4 inches for the remainder of the Divide, and around 2 inches for the peaks of the Sangres.

Latest model runs keep the upper jet moreso over the northwest quad of CO and to the north, so the strongest wind gusts will likely not be a problem for the forecast area. However, models do hint at some high gusts across the mt peaks, especially for the southern Sangres, so stronger wind gusts across La Veta Pass and in the normal high wind/gap flow areas in the vicinity of Walsenburg are probable this afternoon into the early evening.

The enhanced downslope winds will help boost temps today to record or near record levels, with highs in the 50s to around 60F for the high valleys, and upper 60s to upper 70s for the plains. As the forecast max T stands right now, Alamosa will be near the record for the day, while both Colorado Springs and Pueblo are forecast to break the record for Christmas Day. Moore

LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 213 AM MST Thu Dec 25 2025

Friday..

Our flow aloft becomes more and more southwesterly tomorrow as our next trough begins to move onshore. This keeps snow showers going over the San Juans, though totals look to remain on the lower end. Daytime highs remain well above average, but are not expected to break records again. Colorado Springs may tie theirs, since their standing record for the 26th is rather low end at 64F, but that is the only record in jeopardy of our climate sites at this time. Highs in the 60s to low 70s are likely over the plains, with 50s for mountain valleys. Winds will be lighter tomorrow as we transition towards southwest flow, though southwesterly gusts to 35 mph or so will be possible over the higher peaks of the Sangres, and 30 mph gusts will be possible through our gap flow in Huerfano. This will mean that very spotty elevated fire weather conditions will be possible through the gap in Huerfano tomorrow. Elevated fire weather conditions with brief gusts to 25 mph will be possible over Teller County as well. Increasing cloudiness is expected throughout the day tomorrow.

Friday Night Through Saturday..

Temperatures remain much warmer than normal Friday night, with lows near freezing for much of the I-25 corridor and Lower Arkansas River Valley. The San Luis Valley will be cooler with temperatures falling into the 20s, and our southeast plains will be warmer with temperatures only falling into the 40s. Snow tapers over the San Juans through the overnight hours. Daytime highs on Saturday look to be just a few degrees cooler than Friday, though still around 12 to 15 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year. Most of the plains looks to warm into 60s, with a few low 70s possible on our far southern plains, and 50s likely for the Pikes Peak region and our mountain valleys. Models are still showing a messy split with the incoming shortwave, bringing the trough axis into far western Colorado late Saturday night. Though this progression has slowed, it still favors a split, with a stronger northerly push and gusty winds across the area on Saturday and Sunday. For Saturday though, we look to be pre-frontal throughout the daylight hours, which may bring chances for critical fire weather conditions across our southern plains. Snow showers look to increase from west to east across the high country throughout the daytime hours, spreading into the Continental Divide by late Saturday afternoon, and into the Sangres by Saturday evening.

Sunday..

Our much anticipated cold front finally pushes through Saturday night into early Sunday morning, spreading rain and snow chances across the plains as we head into Sunday. Models continue to push this timing back, which is a trend that may continue happening for the next few runs. At this time, QPF is very minimal for the lower elevations, and snow amounts look to be generally less than an inch along and west of I-25, with just a dusting further east, but these outcomes could change as the event draws closer in time. Daytime highs are trending cooler as models close in as well, with temperatures in the mid to upper 30s for much of the plains and our mountain valleys, with a few areas in the low 40s on our far southeast plains. Breezy northerly winds will also be possible, especially for our far eastern plains. We finally see some winter- looking overnight lows Sunday night into Monday as well, with temperatures falling into the low teens on the plains and single digits over the San Luis Valley behind the front.

Monday Onwards..

Provided the front doesn't slow down anymore, we are in cool and dry northerly flow behind it by Monday, with near normal temperatures. Highs look to climb into the 40s for much of the plains, with 30s for the San Luis Valley. A warming trend looks to begin on Tuesday, with dry conditions and weaker winds persisting through at least Wednesday as a broad area of high pressure sits to our west and leaves us in northwest flow. Models hint that this pattern may stay in place through late next week before southwest flow and more chances for precipitation return, at least for the high country.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1014 AM MST Thu Dec 25 2025

VFR conditions through the next 24 hours at all three terminals (KALS, KCOS, KPUB). Gusty, southwest to west winds will impact each terminal this afternoon, with gusts in excess of 25 kts likely. Periods of mid and high clouds will continue through Friday afternoon. Winds will subside overnight. LLWS is possible at KCOS late tonight into Friday morning with strong westerly flow off the deck. Mozley

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.