textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Rain and snow along and west of ContDvd tonight, with precipitation spreading east through the day Wednesday before diminishing Wednesday night/Thursday morning.

- Light to moderate snow accumulations for the Southwest and Central Mtns with early season advisories in place.

- Much cooler temperatures in place Wednesday and Thursday.

- Hard Freeze the San Luis Valley Wednesday night and possible Thursday, with a frost and freeze possible across the southeast plains Thursday and Friday nights. Freeze Warning issued for the San Luis Valley.

- Warmer and drier into the Weekend.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 220 PM MDT Tue Oct 13 2026

Current water vapor imagery and upper air analysis has moderate to strong southwest flow aloft in place across the Rockies, as a short wave energy is rounding the base of an upper low across the southern Great Basin at this time. Regional radars have scattered showers across western Colorado at this time, with radar data indicating a well defined boundary/cold front pushing south and across eastern El Paso county and central Crowley county at this time.

Ensemble model data remains consistent with operational models in better agreement with said Great Basin upper low digging to near the Four Corners region tonight, before lifting out across southwest and south central Colorado Wednesday, into northeastern Colorado Wednesday night before continuing into the Northern High Plains on Thursday.

This brings moist southerly flow into south central and southeast Colorado through the day Wednesday, with widespread showers spreading from west to east across the region through Wednesday night, as the upper low pivots across northeast Colorado. With colder air associated with the translating system, snow levels drop to around 8,000 feet through Wednesday night, leading to 4 to 10 inches of snow possible across the higher terrain of eastern San Juan Mtns, as well as the higher terrain of the eastern Sawatch and western Mosquito Ranges, where early season winter weather advisories are in place tonight through Wednesday night. Those traveling across the the higher terrain should be prepared for winter driving conditions.

Further east across the plains, moist easterly upslope flow is expected behind the passing front tonight, leading to widespread stratus across the plains by early Wednesday morning. Waa showers spread across the region through the day, and with the proximity of the upper low, can't rule out a stronger storm or two into Wednesday night, before precipitation winds down from southwest to northeast Thursday morning. With the current progged movement of the system, light snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches look to be possible across the higher elevations of the SE Mtns and into the Pikes Peak region later Wednesday afternoon into early Thursday morning.

As for temperatures, a much cooler day is expected on Wednesday, with highs in the 30s and 40s across the higher terrain, and into the 50s across the San Luis Valley and for the southeast plains. Colder air works into the region with the passing system Wednesday night, with lows in the 20s and 30s expected across the higher terrain and in the the 30s and 40s across the plains. This has prompted the issuance of a Freeze Warning for the San Luis Valley, with the first widespread freeze of the season expected.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 220 PM MDT Tue Oct 13 2026

There remains the potential for wrap around precipitation across the central Mtns into the Pikes Peak region and southeast Mtns into Thursday, with gusty northerly winds of 20 to 40 mph developing across the plains through the day. Temperatures warm slightly for Thursday, with highs in the 50s to around 60 across the plains, and mainly in the 40s and 50s across the higher terrain, save for 30s at the peaks. With drier air working into the region and weakening gradient winds, overnight lows in the 20s are expected across the higher terrain, with lows in the 30s across the plains, leading to the potential for frost and the first freeze of the season across southeast Colorado. We will continue to monitor for potential freeze highlights later Thursday night, however, those needing to protect sensitive plants and outdoor irrigation should start to take action for the potential end of the growing season across the plains.

Model data continues to indicate warmer and drier conditions developing for Friday and into the weekend, as upper level ridging builds into the region from the west. This gives way to increasing southwest flow aloft once again into early next week, ahead of another system moving across the Great Basin bringing increasing chances of precipitation to areas along and west of the ContDvd through the middle of next week.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 543 PM MDT Tue Oct 13 2026

KALS: Gusty southwest winds and some passing rain showers will linger through about 03Z. Winds weaken a bit overnight, with clouds lowering into MVFR. Gusty southwest winds to around 30 knots return in the afternoon, with more showers possible Wednesday afternoon.

KCOS and KPUB: Passing showers will linger in the area for a few more hours this evening, with some increasing cloud covers and gusty east to southeast winds, 25-30 knots. Overnight, upsloping east winds will bring low stratus and some patchy fog to the terminals. IFR to patchy LIFR conditions will last the rest of the forecast period. There will be a low chance for some rain showers in the early morning, with rain become more likely later in the day

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM Wednesday to midnight MDT Wednesday night for COZ058-060. Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 6 PM MDT Wednesday for COZ068. Freeze Warning from midnight Wednesday night to 8 AM MDT Thursday for COZ069>071.