textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Critical fire weather conditions expected today across the I-25 Corridor and portions of Fremont, Huerfano and Las Animas counties.

- Another round of snow headed for the high country later tonight and through the day Friday, with the potential for some light snow to spread across the plains Friday afternoon and evening.

- Warming and drying trend through the weekend with temperatures back above seasonal levels early next week.

UPDATE

Issued at 503 AM MST Thu Feb 19 2026

Updated forecasts to end all high wind warnings this morning, including the Pikes Peak region. Still a low threat of gusty 40-50 mph winds along/west of I-25 from Pueblo southward for a few hours this morning, but main threat for damaging winds seems to have diminished and shifted south into NM. In the Pikes Peak region, haven't seen any gusts much than 50 mph so far this morning, and with an overall decrease in speeds the past couple hours as mountain wave set-up has just about ended, threat damaging winds appears minimal.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 1257 AM MST Thu Feb 19 2026

Current water vapor imagery and upper air analysis has moderate to strong west to southwest flow across the region, as an embedded short wave is translating across north central Colorado. Water vapor imagery is also indicating some drying across central into eastern Colorado, indicative of stronger downslope winds across the region with a few reports of 55 to 65 mph winds already recorded in the lee of eastern mountains late this evening. Regional radars have diminishing echoes through the late evening, as much drier air filters into the region.

Strong westerly winds to slowly diminish through early Thursday morning, as gradient relaxes with passing wave. Latest data is not as conducive for strong mtn wave, however, can not rule out a few more reports 60 to 70 mph winds in the lee of Pikes Peak, and especially in the lee of the southern Sangres through 3 AM, with current High Wind Warnings remaining in tact through 6 AM and 8 AM.

Moderate westerly flow aloft continues across the region through the day today, with southwest flow expected to increase into tonight, ahead of more Pacific Northwest energy digging across the Intermountain West.

Latest model data supports breezy north to northwest winds across the plains this morning, as a weak front moves across the High Plains behind this mornings passing wave. These winds diminish across the far southeast plains through the early afternoon, however, breezy west to northwest winds of 20 to 40 mph remain for areas over and near the higher terrain, supporting Critical Fire Weather conditions, with very dry air in place. With that said, we made no changes to current Red Flag Warning for portions of Fremont, El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano and Las Animas counties, starting at 10 AM. Temperatures today continue to follow the cooling trend, with highs mainly in the 40s across the plains, in the teens and 20s across the higher terrain and into the 30s for the high mountain valleys.

Increasing moisture within the increasing southwest flow across the region tonight will again develop snow along and west of the Continental, with snow increasing in coverage and intensity through the day Friday, as this next wave moves across the Rockies. Model trends are not as amplified with this wave, however, will likely need some winter highlights across the Divide, with 5 to 10 inches possible across the SW mtns and 3 to 6 inches possible across the Central mtns. While westerly breezes continue over and near the higher terrain on Friday, cooler temperatures with highs in the 30s and 40s across the plains, 20s and 30s across the higher terrain, and better moisture looks to alleviate Critical Fire Weather conditions. Chances for showers continue across the plains Friday afternoon and evening, however, with the less amplified system, any precipitation is expected to remain light.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1257 AM MST Thu Feb 19 2026

A warming and drying remains in the offing for the weekend, with highs in the 40s and 50s across the plains and into the 30s and 40s across the higher terrain. Upper ridging building across the Rockies early next week will help boost temperatures well above seasonal levels through the middle of next week, with increasing westerly flow also bringing back the potential for critical fire weather conditions.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 503 AM MST Thu Feb 19 2026

At KCOS, weak surface front has backed westward toward the terminal this morning, with at least some patchy MVFR stratus just north and east of the airport at 12z. Expect front to stall and mix back eastward by late morning, and will keep forecast VFR the next 24 hrs as a result. Briefly erratic winds this morning will trend back toward w-nw through the day, with some gusts 20-30 kts before diminishing this evening.

At KPUB, weak frontal boundary is just northeast of the terminal this morning, though radar trends suggest westward motion was slowing as of 12z. Expect front to mix back eastward today, keeping VFR conditions in place the next 24 hrs, along with a period of gusty (20-30 kts) west winds this afternoon and early evening, before winds diminish overnight.

At KALS, VFR the next 24 hrs, with a period of gusty w-sw winds from late afternoon into early evening.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM MST this evening for COZ222-227>230-233.