textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Sub-freezing temperatures are expected tonight across the area, with a Freeze Warning in effect 10pm-8am for the plains.

- Cold temperatures are expected again Saturday Night into early Sunday, with a Freeze Watch in place over the plains.

- Dry and mild conditions return late this weekend and into next week. Expected spotty critical fire weather conditions and warmer temperatures.

- Another storm system could bring precipitation to southern CO late week though lots of uncertainty on the details.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 1236 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Currently...

With the secondary surge of the cold front moving in from the north, snow showers have already picked up over the Pikes Peak Region and portions of the mountains. Snow is falling at a good pace up near the Monument area, though the roads appear warm enough to halt any accumulations at this time. Temperatures continue to drop, though, so conditions will be closely monitored.

Meanwhile, gusty winds and low RH have already spread across the San Luis Valley. Still waiting on the drier west winds to push the front back in Las Animas County, but high-res guidance is still insisting, so keeping the Red Flag as is for now.

Rest of Today and Tonight...

Any ongoing snow showers will wane by early this evening, leaving us with cold temperatures overnight across the region. Expect lows in the mid-high 20s over the eastern plains and teens over the valleys and near the mountains. Freeze Warning remains in effect tonight from 10pm to 8am.

Saturday...

After a generally frigid start to the day, mostly clear skies will help us warm up tomorrow, with high temperatures climbing into the 50s-60s across most of the area. Surface conditions will be very dry, with RH values plummeting back towards single digits in the afternoon. That being said, flow aloft doesn't look very strong, and surface winds should be light enough to limit any critical fire weather conditions over the area. May see a few hours of spotty critical conditions along the CO/KS border, but nothing widespread enough to warrant any highlights at this time.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 1236 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Expecting another cold night Saturday night into Sunday, with low temperatures in the 20s to low-30s out east and in the teens to low- 20s over and near the higher terrain. Freeze Watch remains in effect for the entirety of our eastern plains.

Sunday and Monday still appear warmer and milder as an upper-level ridge builds in over the region. Highs will rebound back into the 70s-80s over the plains and 60s-70s for the valleys, slowly warming towards the middle of next week. Once again dry surface conditions will be conducive to increased fire risk, but with the current forecast having winds below critical thresholds, will have to see if we need any highlights closer to date.

Looking later in the week, the past few days of model runs have consistently developed a stronger low pressure system, pushing it onto the Pacific coast around midweek. General consensus between models is for the some windier conditions ahead of this low, and potentially more widespread fire weather concerns, before more active weather arrives with the trough late next week. Otherwise, model solutions diverge greatly with regards to strength, timing, and the path of larger-scale patterns mid-late next week, so more details will have to be refined in the coming days.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 520 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

A pacific weather disturbance was exiting the region early this evening. Snow has pretty much ended at KCOS and will end within the next hour or so at KPUB (the system never really affected KALS). MVFR/IFR conditions may occur at KPUB very early in the fcst period as a band or two of snow moves through, otherwise expect VFR and decreasing winds later this evening at all 3 taf sites KPUB, KALS and KCOS. VFR and light diurnal flow will continue through the day tomorrow.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning until 6 PM MDT this evening for COZ224. Freeze Warning from 10 PM this evening to 8 AM MDT Saturday for COZ083>089-093>099. Freeze Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday morning for COZ083>089-093>099.