textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Temperatures remain warmer than normal today, but are several degrees cooler than yesterday. Dry conditions persist as well, though winds will be much lighter.

- Well above normal temperatures through Friday, then a cooling trend over the weekend into Monday.

- Snow across the higher terrain starting Wednesday and lasting into the weekend, mainly along the Continental Divide with the greatest amounts forecast for the southwest mts. Plains remain dry.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 215 AM MST Tue Dec 23 2025

Today and Tonight..

Our flow aloft turns more and more southwesterly as the day progresses, though temperatures look to back off a bit from where we yesterday. All locations will still be around 20 to 25 degrees warmer than normal, but we are not looking at shattering as many records today as what we saw yesterday. The standing records for both Pueblo and Colorado Springs for December 23rd are 77F, which is the all time December record for Colorado Springs as well. Both ares are only expected to warm into the middle and upper 60s today, but some of our southern plains could see some low 70s. Alamosa standing record for today is 58F, and they are forecast to hit 57F. Middle and upper-level cloud cover looks to increase throughout the day as moisture begins to stream in with southwesterly flow aloft. Winds will be lighter this afternoon as we transition towards southwest flow aloft as well, though gusts to 40 mph or so will be possible by late tonight over our higher peaks. Overnight lows will be mild once again, especially on our mountain adjacent plains and over our southern plains. These ares are expected to only cool into the low to mid 40s. These overnight low temperatures are near what is normal for daytime highs for this time of year.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 215 AM MST Tue Dec 23 2025

Longwave Pacific trough to linger across the western US through Friday, then weakens, splits in two and tracks east across the Great Basin and Rocky Mt region Saturday through Monday.

Wednesday through Friday...Models are in fairly good agreement showing a longwave Pacific trough producing persistent southwest flow across the desert SW through Friday. This will keep moisture advection in place for the Four Corners and western CO through the week, bringing some snow to the higher terrain while at the same time keeping the eastern plains dry and significantly warmer than normal. Snow will begin by mid-morning Wednesday, and remain off and on into the weekend, with a focus on the Continental Divide, and the southwest mts seeing the most snow. Total snow amounts Wed through Fri are forecast to be in the 4-10 inch range, with the eastern San Juan Mts again having the best chance at seeing the higher amounts. The heaviest snowfall rates will likely occur late Wed night through Christmas. Latest QPF amounts have come down a bit, though total QPF across the southwest mts through Fri are still nearing 1 inch.

As for temps, Wed and Thu will be the warmest with highs in the 50s for the high valleys, and upper 60s to upper 70s for the plains. Fri will be slightly cooler but still well above seasonal normals, with highs in the mid 40s to around 50F for the high valleys, and upper 50s to around 70F for the plains.

Saturday through Monday...There are some differences in model solutions this weekend, but in general the upper trough finally starts to move east on Sat, weakening as it splits into two pieces. Light snow will remain a possibility for the Continental Divide Sat and Sun. Meanwhile, the upper system pushes east across the Rockies and forces a surface cold front south into CO by late Sat night. While Sat looks to be a cooler day, the more significant drop in temperatures is forecast for Sun and Mon when afternoon highs may actually be near seasonal normals. There is an isolated shot of some light showers Sat night with frontal passage, but the safe bet is continued dry conditions for the plains through the extended. Plan on highs Sat in the 40s for the high valleys, and 50s to near 60F for the plains. For Sun and Mon, widespread high temps in the 40s are expected. Moore

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 215 AM MST Tue Dec 23 2025

VFR conditions are expected for the next 24 hours at all three stations, KCOS, KPUB, and KALS. Winds will be mainly light and diurnally driven. Middle and upper-level cloud cover will increase throughout the period. Precipitation is not expected.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.