textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue to spread south and east through the rest of this afternoon and this evening, with highest coverage over the Pikes Peak region and northern El Paso County.

- Cooler and wetter weather remains on track for tomorrow and Friday. Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for the Sangres, the Wets, and Teller County, and Advisories have been added for portions of the high country as well.

- We warm up and dry out through the weekend and into the beginning of next week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 154 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026

Rest of Today and Tonight..

Showers have developed across much of the northern half of our forecast area. Lightning has begun over northern El Paso and Teller County. Showers and thunderstorms are likely to continue to spread east through the next several hours, kicking off our much anticipated 2 to 3 day rain and snow event. Scattered to numerous showers are expected along and north of highway 50 by around midnight, as rain chances continue to sag south behind the approaching cold front. Overnight lows look to remain warm across the lower elevations, which should keep precip types falling as rain tonight.

Tomorrow..

The Palmer Divide may see a brief transition to some flurries early Thursday morning, but accumulations on our warm soils are not expected early in the event across lower elevations. Northeast winds become due easterly by late Thursday morning, helping to deepen upslope across the region. This will help to spread rain chances across the plains throughout the rest of Thursday. Models continue to paint event total qpf amounts of 0.5 to 1.5 inches over the plains, with the higher end of that range up against the mountains west of I-25, and the lower end across the San Luis Valley and the far eastern plains. Even higher totals are forecast over the eastern mountains, where 1.5 to 1.8 inches of liquid equivalent are currently expected for some areas. These areas include the Sangres, the Wets, and Teller County, to include Pikes Peak. All of these areas have been placed under Winter Storm Warnings for Thursday morning through Friday afternoon or Friday night, depending on location. All of these areas are likely to see totals in the 8 inches to 2 feet of snow range, depending on elevation. Winter Weather Advisories have also been issued for the Wet mountain Valley, northern Fremont County, eastern Chaffee County, and eastern Lake County, where snow totals of 6 to 10 inches can be expected. For all areas that have been added to highlights so far, Thursday evening and Thursday night looks to be the period of heaviest snowfall. The best chances for accumulating snowfall on the Palmer Divide will also be Thursday night into early Friday morning, when temperatures look to finally dip below freezing. This may effect the Thursday evening commute, but will more likely impact the Friday morning commute. Heavier snowfall rates begin over the San Juans late Thursday night into Friday morning. This area may need to be considered for winter weather highlights with future forecast packages.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 154 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026

Friday and Saturday..

Moderate to heavy snowfall over the high country, and rain on the plains, eventually comes to an end from northeast to southwest throughout the day on Friday. For now, Advisories and Warnings look to end Friday morning for all areas north of highway 50, with our Wets and Sangres dropping off Friday afternoon. The San Juans look to keep heavier snowfall over their area through much of the day Friday, with snow eventually coming to an end for all areas early Saturday morning. Daytime highs on Friday remain much cooler than normal. With cloudy and wet conditions persisting for most areas, highs in the 50s to low 60s look likely. As clear conditions develop, overnight lows may dip down near or below freezing for much of the plains. We warm up heading into Saturday, as another little system tries to dip down to our south and we sit in shortwave ridging. Highs are expected to climb back into the 60s and low 70s for mountain valleys and plains for Saturday for now, but slight changes in where the messy features of this weekend end up could change this forecast. The little system to our south also looks to keep at least scattered pops over the high country for Saturday.

Sunday Onwards..

Models develop a ridge overhead for Sunday and Monday or so, allowing us to warm back up above normal for a couple of days as a low sits over southern California. Showers and thunderstorms may be possible both days as southwest flows develops, depending on available moisture. Models are not in great agreement with this systems progression, though it does look like the general consensus is to bring the feature eastwards towards midweek.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 548 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026

KCOS: VFR conditions at the start of this TAF period will quickly become IFR this evening, and will remain in IFR to MVFR conditions through this TAF period. Showers currently in place will continue to increase in coverage, with a more widespread rain expected overnight and through much of tomorrow, with a brief break in precipitation possible tomorrow morning. This pattern is expected to keep ceilings and visibility more limited, with the heaviest rain expected tomorrow afternoon, with some thunder also possible. Along with all of that, while all rain is anticipated overnight, there is potential for a rain/snow mix to even transition to all snow for a brief period overnight as heavy precipitation rates materialize. While accumulations on the ground are expected to be minimal, elevated surfaces may accumulate snow, and visibility may quickly drop in any heavy, big snow flakes that develop. Otherwise, winds will remain around and less than 10 knots, with thick low to mid level clouds staying in place.

KPUB: VFR conditions at the start of this TAF period will quickly become IFR this evening, and will remain in IFR to MVFR conditions through this TAF period. Showers currently in place will continue to increase in coverage, with a more widespread rain expected overnight and through much of tomorrow, with a brief break in precipitation possible tomorrow morning. This pattern is expected to keep ceilings and visibility more limited, with the heaviest rain expected tomorrow afternoon, with some thunder also possible. Along with all of that, while all rain is anticipated overnight, there is low potential for a rain/snow mix for a brief period overnight as heavy precipitation rates materialize. While any accumulations on the ground are expected to be minimal, if anything, elevated surfaces may accumulate snow, and visibility may quickly drop in any snow that develops. Otherwise, winds will remain around and less than 10 knots, with thick low to mid level clouds staying in place.

KALS: VFR conditions are expected for much of this TAF period, with MVFR to IFR conditions developing tomorrow afternoon. Conditions will remain dry tonight and through tomorrow morning. However, as a storm system passes over, showers will increase within the San Luis Valley, by late morning, with more widespread persistent rain developing during the afternoon hours. As rain becomes more widespread, clouds and visibility will start to quickly lower. Otherwise, winds will remain around and less than 10 knots, with low to mid level clouds increasing tomorrow afternoon.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM Thursday to noon MDT Friday for COZ058-063-076-078. Winter Storm Warning from 6 AM Thursday to midnight MDT Friday night for COZ072>075-079-080. Winter Storm Warning from 6 AM Thursday to noon MDT Friday for COZ081-082.