textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Heat wave through Saturday.

- Critical fire weather today and especially Saturday, Spotty critical fire weather expected Thursday and Friday.

- Cooling of a bit Sunday and Monday, but warming up again Tuesday, Some critical fire weather still likely this period.

- No significant precipitation expected through this entire forecast period.

UPDATE

Issued at 758 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026

Updated to cancel the Red Flag Warning for the San Luis Valley and Fremont County for this evening. Observations are indicating winds are dissipating and will continue to weaken through the rest of this evening. Humidity values remain low, with 10 to 15 percent readings across the area. Recoveries overnight will be poor, with 15 to 25 percent by morning for many locations.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 102 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026

Mostly sunny and dry conditions prevailed across the region early this afternoon. Temperatures were in the mid 60s to mid 70s across the plains with temps around 60 in the larger valleys.

For the rest of today it will remain mostly sunny with temps reaching into the U70s to M80s across most of the plains and mid 70s valleys. These temps will approach record values for the date.

Tonight...clear and dry. RH values will likely not recover too much especially along the mtns/plains interface regions.

Tomorrow...

Hot. Record temps are likely at the 3 primary climate sites as forecasted temps will be 80s in the Springs, 85 in Pueblo and 77 for Alamosa. Winds tomorrow are expected to be a bit weaker than today as thee gradient aloft will lessen. Likewise, critical fire weather conditions will be spotty at best.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 102 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026

|Friday: Continued hot. Temperatures will be 2-3F warmer than on Thursday. winds are expected to remain light and diurnally drive. Although RH values will be very low, widespread critical fire weather conditons are not anticipated.

Saturday...

This day will be the main concern fire weather-wise. Temperatures will continue to be above record level values and winds will start to pick up as the ridge breaks down and the gradient aloft tightens. This will allow a lee trough to develop which will increase the winds over the region. Widespread critical fire weather conditions are expected over the mountains, valleys and the greater I-25 corridor region. winds this day in the critical fire weather areas will be in the 25 to 35 mph range in the mountains and 20 to 30 mph range over the lower elevations.

Sunday...

A cool front will likely move over the plains and temps will be a bit cooler region wide. The only exception will be over the San Luis valley and it will be the valley regions which may see red flag conditions develop once again.

Monday...

Temperatures will warm up once again but likely remain below record values, Fire weather conditions will once again be possible but appear to be spotty at this time.

Tuesday and Wednesday...

Critical fire weather conditions are forecasted to be more widespread on these days as temps warm up regionwide and the flow over the region will be stronger as zonal flow prevails aloft, and surface winds will be gusty. I should mention that there is a rather large spread in max temps during this period as some of the longer range guidance has more amplified mid level troughs moving through while others remain zonal.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 515 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026

VFR conditions anticipated across the forecast area over the next 24 hrs, including the three main TAF sites of KCOS, KPUB and KALS. Surface winds will be diurnally driven and generally under 12 kts.

CLIMATE

Issued at 102 PM MDT Wed Mar 18 2026

LCD sites March 18th-21st Record Highs

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

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

The all time record March max temp for Alamosa .........is 76. The all time record March max temp for Colorado Springs is 81. The all time record March max temp for Pueblo ..........is 86.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.