textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon with the best coverage over and near the higher terrain, especially in the Pikes Peak region.

- Cooler and wetter weather Thursday through Friday, with moderate to heavy snowfall across the higher terrain, especially over and near the southeast mtns.

- Potential for a widespread freeze across the southeast plains Friday night.

- Warmer and drier for the weekend, though may be enough lingering moisture to support afternoon showers over and near the higher terrain.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 138 AM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026

Current water vapor imagery and upper air analysis is indicating moderate west to southwest flow in place across the region, with continued embedded waves translating through the flow at this time. Water vapor imagery also has short wave energy digging down the backside of large upper ridge in place across Pacific Northwest Coast. Regional radars are indicating some light echoes developing across the Pikes Peak region at this time, in response to increasing mid level warm advection within the westerly flow aloft.

Latest higher res data indicates waa showers spreading across northern portions of the southeast plains over night and diminishing into the early morning hours. Increasing moisture and lift ahead of the next wave translating through the flow through the day supports scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms developing over the higher terrain and spreading out across the plains through the afternoon and evening. Latest HREF indicates mean cape up to 500 j/kg and just enough shear to support a few stronger storms, especially in the Pikes Peak region through the afternoon. Once again, could see local snow accumulations of a few inches across the higher peaks, with snow levels down to around 9000 ft. Latest models continue to support increasing coverage of showers across the plains tonight, but differ on intensity and qpf bulleyes within the waa regime across the plains.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 138 AM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026

For Thursday and Friday...latest models continue to indicate differences on timing and location of the northern stream system, though consensus digs a baggy trough across the Central Rockies through the day Friday, with some indication of secondary energy persisting across the eastern Great Basin Friday night, which could keep precipitation ongoing across southern Colorado.

At any rate, following model consensus, will start to see increasing coverage of precipitation over and near the higher terrain Thursday morning, with moderate to at times heavy precipitation continuing through Thursday night into Friday morning, before precipitation likely winds down from northeast to southwest with drier air moving into the region from the north. Latest data supports snow levels around 8000-9000 feet through the day Thursday, falling to around 6500 feet Thursday night before rising again through the day Friday. Best coverage remains over and near the eastern mountains, where modest sfc-h7 easterly upslope will enhance precipitation rates and totals. The other wild card is the potential for convectively enhanced precipitation, which could greatly influence snow levels and amounts. With that said, our first crack at snow totals support 6 to 12 inches across lower portions of eastern mtns, with 10 to 20 inches possible across the higher peaks. With tight gradients in snow amounts likely, we issued broad Winter Storm Watches for the Eastern mtns with this package, and will see if additional model data supports warning or advisory amounts, or both. We may need additional advisories for the rest of the higher terrain, especially portions of the Wet Mtn Valley, the eastern slopes the Central and Southwest mtns, portions of the Raton Mesa and western and northwestern portions of El Paso county.

Temperatures through this period look to be will below seasonal levels with the potential for another widespread freeze across the plains Friday night into Saturday morning, depending of timing of the broad trough exiting the region. A warming and drying trend remains on tap for Saturday into early next week, as upper level ridging builds back across the Rockies. There may be enough lingering moisture to support afternoon showers across the higher terrain through the weekend. Models continue to differ on the timing and location of the next system looking to move into the region through the middle of next week.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1101 PM MDT Tue Apr 28 2026

KCOS and KPUB... CIGs will fill in and lower across the plains with VFR to MVFR cigs possible at KCOS and KPUB after 09-10z. Showers will be possible at both terminals overnight but most likely at KCOS. Winds will stay predominantly southeasterly with another round of -SHRA/-TSRA at both terminals in the afternoon. Winds will shift from the north.

KALS...Variable mid and high cloudiness expected across the region over the next 24 hours. Southwest winds will pick up again by late morning with gusts up to 25 mph. A chance of showers will be possible in the afternoon but cigs should stay VFR with only light precipitation. -KT

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Storm Watch from Thursday morning through Friday afternoon for COZ072>075-079-080. Winter Storm Watch from Thursday morning through Friday morning for COZ081-082.