textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Hot today, with all time March records set to fall (most of the Plains into the 90s).

- High fire danger today across portions of the area due to very low humidity, hot temperatures and gusty winds 30 to 45 mph.

- A cold front will bring a brief cool down Sunday and Monday, before warming back up mid next week with more fire weather concerns.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 1239 AM MDT Sat Mar 21 2026

Currently...satellite imagery shows clear skies across southern Colorado early this morning under broad northwesterly flow aloft. Temperature are mild with 40s and 50s across the lower elevations, with light winds.

Today and tonight...the main concern for today will be high fire danger across portions of southern Colorado. The upper high to the west is forecast to shift southward by this afternoon, with flow aloft transitioning to westerly zonal by early afternoon. Enhanced mixing will allow for temperatures to warm well into the 80s and 90s across the Plains, with another round of all time record March high temperatures (by several degrees again today). Highs near Lamar could reach near 100 this afternoon, with MOS guidance topping out at 99, and NBM at 97. Humidity values will be exceptionally low, with values in the single digits across the region. Winds will also steadily increase through the afternoon, especially for areas west of I-25. Gusts 30 to 45 mph will be possible this afternoon. Gusty southwest flow will also spread across the far southeast Plains in Baca County as well. Red Flag Warnings remain in effect from late morning, well into the evening hours. While we do not have Red Flag Warnings in effect for areas east of the I-25 counties, it will be exceptionally hot and dry, and winds could mix further east. Humidity values will be slow to recover this evening, and winds will slowly subside around midnight. Overnight lows will fall into the 40s and 50s for the lower elevations by Sunday morning. Areas of smoke will also remain possible this afternoon and evening, mainly across Teller, El Paso and Pueblo Counties.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 1239 AM MDT Sat Mar 21 2026

Models remain in good agreement through the extended period with dry conditions and warming temperatures by mid week.

Sunday and Monday...a strong cold front associated with a weak embedded wave in zonal westerly flow aloft will drop south across the Plains during the morning hours. This will bring much cooler air to the Plains, with highs in the 60s and 70s by the afternoon. While cooler, these temperatures are still 10 plus degrees above normal. Moisture will push west across the Plains with humidity values in the upper teens to low 20s percent, along with brisk northeasterly winds. As for precipitation, model guidance continues to come in drier. At best, and isolated rain/snow shower will be possible across the Central Mountains north of Cottonwood Pass Sunday afternoon and evening. A stray shower could also move across Teller County, but confidence is low over this area.

By Monday, the next upper ridge will begin to build across the western states with northwesterly flow returning to the area. Temperatures will begin to warm, with most of the Plains in the 70s to near 80. Fire weather conditions will also begin to ramp back up, initially across the San Luis Valley, and into the Eastern Mountains by Monday afternoon.

Tuesday and Wednesday...the upper high to the west will flatten across the Desert Southwest with northwest to zonal westerly flow across Colorado. Enhanced mixing will help temperatures warm back through the 80s and low 90s, with the warmest readings on Wednesday. Winds will be gusty and humidity values falling to near 10 percent, with another couple of days of fire weather conditions across much of southern Colorado.

Thursday into Friday...the next cold front arrives Thursday morning, with another round of cooler temperatures to end the work week. NBM guidance is developing light precipitation across the higher terrain, but most other guidance is dry. Temperatures will only fall back into the 60s and 70s for the end of the week.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1046 PM MDT Fri Mar 20 2026

VFR at all taf sites the next 24 hrs. W-SW winds will increase at all terminals Sat afternoon, with gusts 20-25 kts from 20z into the evening. Winds will then diminish 02z-04z Sat evening.

CLIMATE

Issued at 134 PM MDT Thu Mar 19 2026

LCD sites March 20th-21st Record Highs ALS...Sat...Mar 21...72F...1997 COS...Sat...Mar 21...75F...1995 PUB...Sat...Mar 21...82F...2016

The all time record March max temp for Alamosa .........is 78. The all time record March max temp for Colorado Springs is 81. The all time record March max temp for Pueblo ..........is 89.

These all time record March max temperatures were set or tied yesterday (Friday March 20, 2026).

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from 11 AM this morning to 11 PM MDT this evening for COZ220>230-237.