textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- A Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning is expected for Wednesday across the San Luis Valley, the central mountains, and the Sangre de Cristos (fire weather zones 220, 224, and 225)

- Continued fire weather concerns are likely for Thursday and Friday

- A pattern change towards cooler and more active weather is expected for the weekend into early next week

SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 106 PM MDT Tue Apr 21 2026

Rest of Today and Tonight..

Warmer than normal temperatures are present this afternoon. Relative humidity values are very low, generally in the single digit to low teens range. Winds are below critical thresholds this afternoon though. Some very spotty showers will be possible over the San Juans and the central mountains this afternoon and early this evening, but appreciable moisture is not expected. Overnight low temperatures will be much warmer than normal with our incoming trough and increasing southwest flow over the region. Most of our plains looks to only cool into the middle and upper 40s, with 50s likely over the banana belt region where downsloping will be strongest.

Tomorrow..

A Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning is expected for Wednesday across the San Luis Valley, the central mountains, and the Sangre de Cristos (fire weather zones 220, 224, and 225)... Models have kept the incoming trough a bit to our north, with strongest jet support for high winds located over northwest Colorado and the Great Basin. High wind potential over southern Colorado will be equally as terrain driven as jet driven, with strongest winds expected over the San Luis Valley, the Sangres, and the central mountains. A High Wind Warning has been issued for northern and central portions of the San Luis Valley, where gusts to 60 mph will be possible. The San Luis Valley, the central mountains, and the Sangres are also expected to see Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag conditions tomorrow, with single digit relative humidity values coupling with these very strong winds and warmer than normal temperatures. Highest winds and lowest rh values are expected to coincide in the valleys of these zones, over the Upper Arkansas River Valley, the Wet Mountain Valley, and of course, the San Luis Valley. Blowing dust will also be a concern in the San Luis Valley, and could be a concern on our plains as well.

Winds will not be as strong on the plains given jet placement, but Red Flag criteria and wind gusts to around 35 or 40 mph are still expected across our lower elevation locations. Temperatures of around 15 to 20 degrees warmer than normal are expected, though all three of our climate sites are currently forecast to remain around 4 to 6 degrees below standing records. Highs look to climb into the 70s over mountain valleys, with 80s and low 90s on the plains. Winds remain elevated well into the overnight hours, especially over the high country, which keeps tomorrow's Red Flag Warning in place through midnight. Continued overnight mixing will keep overnight moisture recoveries poor.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 106 PM MDT Tue Apr 21 2026

Thursday..

Mid-level flow weakens heading into Thursday, and temperatures will be several degrees cooler as well. That said, most of the area still looks to meet critical fire weather conditions on Thursday afternoon for several hours, despite a marked improvement from tomorrow's expected conditions. For now, have kept Thursday's Fire Weather Watch in place as is, and will continue to monitor forecast changes and any trends that could dictate changes for Thursday. Other than potential fire weather concerns, expect temperatures in the 60s for mountain valleys, with 70s and low 80s on the plains. Light snow showers will be possible as well, mainly over the central mountains, though a few flakes or rain drops may also be possible over the higher terrain of the Pikes Peak region.

Friday Onwards..

Winds remain elevated on Friday as an upper low sits over the northern plains. Westerly winds gusting over 25 mph look to remain possible over much of the region, along with continued low relative humidity values. Another day of critical weather conditions looks likely for Friday, though highlights have not been issued quite yet. Flow aloft weakens on Saturday, and eventually transitions to southwest flow by Sunday. A few weak disturbances look to move across the region through the weekend, bringing chances for snow to the high country, and showers and thunderstorms to the plains if the trend persists. Temperatures look to remain cooler, with highs near normal and into the 70s on the plains. Another ridge looks to build over the region from Tuesday onwards.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1114 AM MDT Tue Apr 21 2026

VFR conditions are anticipated during the next 24 hours at all 3 taf sites, KPUB, KALS and KCOS. Surface Winds will be diurnally driven, but will be breezy this afternoon at each taf site.

NOTE: Just beyond this forecast period...winds are expected to become quite strong TOMORROW AFTERNOON across the entire region. Strongest winds will likely occur in the KALS region.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from 10 AM Wednesday to midnight MDT Wednesday night for COZ220>222-224>237. High Wind Warning from 1 PM to 8 PM MDT Wednesday for COZ069- 070. Fire Weather Watch from Thursday morning through Thursday evening for COZ221-222-224>237.