textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Hot, dry and windy conditions will prevail through Friday across southern Colorado with continued high fire danger.

- Downslope winds are possible along the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains and lee slopes into the southern I-25 corridor tonight into Monday morning.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 1233 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026

Currently...satellite shows clear skies across southern Colorado this afternoon, with hot dry conditions. Areas on the Plains are in the mid to upper 90s, with 80s across the San Luis Valley. Winds are gusty out of the southwest, ranging from 25 to 45 mph. Humidity values are low, with Red Flag conditions across much of the area.

Tonight and Monday...no change to the upper pattern, with troughing across the western states, and southwest flow across Colorado. There is an embedded strong shortwave trough passing across Wyoming overnight with an increasing gradient across southern Colorado. This will help keep winds gusty overnight for much of the region, along with warm overnight lows in the mid 60s to lower 70s. Of concern are areas of the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains into the southern I-25 corridor. High-res model guidance develops a mountain wave in the 4 AM to 9 AM time frame, and winds could gust in excess of 60-65 mph over this area. In addition, humidity recoveries will be very poor, with Red Flag conditions likely early on. Have the Sangre de Cristo and southern I-25 corridor zones ina Red Flag Warning beginning at 3 AM due to this elevated potential of gusty winds and low humidity values.

Another day of widespread high fire danger is forecast for Monday. Strong southwesterly flow will once again spread across much of southern Colorado, with very low humidity values and winds gusting in excess of 35 mph. Temperatures will also be hot, with mid 90s to lower 100s across the Plains. Again, for areas east of I-25 that saw recent heavy rainfall, no fire weather highlights are in effect, however, not everybody saw rainfall, and the conditions should be treated that way. Those with outdoor burning activities planned for areas east of I-25 should use extreme caution.

LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 1233 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026

Models in decent agreement through much of the extended period, with continued hot and dry conditions through the week. Models are hinting at a pattern change for next weekend, which would likely bring an end to the high fire danger.

Monday night through Friday...persistent southwest flow will continue across Colorado throughout the work week. This will keep high fire danger across southern Colorado each day due to gusty winds and low humidity values.

A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Tuesday for much of the region with the exception of the far eastern counties. A dryline looks to set up Tuesday afternoon near the Kansas border, and humidity vales look to remain above 15 percent. A few showers or thunderstorms will also be possible Tuesday afternoon out east, which will quickly move into Kansas Tuesday evening. Lightning, gusty outflow winds and hail may accompany storms. Areas of smoke from western wildfires may also impact portions of southern Colorado Tuesday leading to poor air quality. Temperatures will be slightly cooler but only by a couple degrees, with highs mainly in the mid to upper 90s.

Very similar conditions are forecast for Wednesday, with another day of widespread high fire danger for the Mountains and most of the Plains. The dryline will once again be in place near the Kansas border, helping to keep humidity values above 15 percent. West of the dryline, southwesterly flow and very low humidity values are expected. Temperatures will remain hot with mid to upper 90s.

The upper out west reloads Thursday into Friday with another round of strong southwesterly flow spreading across Colorado. Both days look to have dangerous fire weather conditions due to gusty winds and low humidity values, for all of southern Colorado. Temperatures will remain hot, with mid 90s to lower 100s.

Saturday and Sunday...the upper pattern looks to break down the trough out west, with high pressure building across Colorado. Energy over the Desert Southwest looks to lift northward bringing moisture and lighter winds to the region, along with increased chances for showers and thunderstorms. There are differences in the models with the development of the upper ridge, so confidence in at this time is on the lower side. Temperatures do look to remain hot in the 90s across the Plains.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1108 AM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026

VFR conditions at all three terminals (KALS, KCOS, KPUB) through the next 24 hours. Strong southwesterly flow will continue at each terminal, with gusts 35-40 kts this afternoon into the early evening. There could be patchy blowing dust near KALS. Winds will subside this evening and overnight. South to southwesterly flow will once again develop on Monday by late morning at all three sites.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1233 PM MDT Sun Jun 28 2026

Widespread high fire danger will continue through the work week with persistent southwest flow and very low humidity values. Red Flag conditions will prevail into this evening for much of the area, with winds gusting in the 35 to 50 mph range and humidity values around 10 percent.

Overnight tonight, high-res model guidance is developing a mountain wave across the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, into the southern I-25 corridor. Winds could top 65 mph, and humidity recoveries will be very poor. Started a Red Flag Warning at 3 AM for these areas given the expected strong winds and low humidity values. Gusty winds will spread across all of southern Colorado by the late morning with very low humidity values, hot temperatures and widespread wind gusts in excess of 35 mph forecast. These conditions will continue into Monday evening.

Tuesday and Wednesday will continue to see high fire danger for most of the region. The dryline will be in play across the far eastern zones near the Kansas border, with humidity values remaining elevated above 15 percent. West of the dryline, very low humidity values and gusty southwest winds will continue. A Fire Weather Watch is in place for Tuesday, and one will likely be needed for Wednesday.

Another round of widespread high fire danger is expected for the whole area Thursday and Friday as southwesterly winds once again increase across southern Colorado. We will continue to monitor the evolving fire weather conditions.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for COZ220>222- 224-225-228>230. Red Flag Warning from 10 AM to 10 PM MDT Monday for COZ220>224- 227-228. Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening for COZ220>233. Red Flag Warning from 3 AM to 10 PM MDT Monday for COZ225-229- 230.