textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Much above temperatures through Saturday across the region.

- Periods of elevated fire weather conditions forecast beginning Wednesday, and continuing into the weekend.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 1250 AM MDT Tue Mar 17 2026

Currently...broad northerly flow aloft will continue across the region through sunrise, with passing mid and high clouds. Temperatures are currently in the 30s for much of the Plains, with lows by morning in the 20s along the lower Arkansas River Valley. Winds continue to be gusty across the higher terrain.

Today and tonight...upper level high pressure will build off the West Coast and slowly drift east into California through tonight. This will put southern Colorado under broad northwesterly flow. Weak energy moving through the flow may generate isolated snow showers across the Central Mountains, north of Cottonwood Pass. Little if any snow accumulation is forecast, and this activity should dissipate by early afternoon. Breezy northwest flow will produce spotty elevated fire weather conditions across the northern half of the San Luis Valley this afternoon. Across the Plains, as heights build across the region, temperatures will begin to warm. Highs today will rise into the upper 60s to near 80 degrees on the Plains, while the San Luis Valley sees highs in the 60s.

Dry conditions will continue overnight across the region, with continued northwesterly flow overhead. Mild overnight lows are forecast, with 30s and 40s across the Plains, and 20s across the San Luis Valley.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 1250 AM MDT Tue Mar 17 2026

Models in good agreement with dominate high pressure across the western states, with continued northwesterly flow across Colorado through Friday. The flow begins to break down over the weekend, becoming more zonal westerly heading into early next week.

Wednesday through Friday...upper high pressure will sit out west with continued northwest flow across Colorado. Temperatures will remain warm, especially for this time of year, with highs on the Plains in the 80s to lower 90s through the end of the work week. Humidity values will be low, with most days in the single digits for most of the region. Winds overall look to be on the lighter side, which will preclude most areas from seeing fire weather conditions. The exception looks to be across the San Luis Valley, Eastern Mountains, and Fremont County. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for the San Luis Valley and Fremont County for Wednesday afternoon and evening due to gusty winds and low humidity. For Thursday and Friday, these areas will continue to see elevated fire weather conditions, with potential spread eastward into the Eastern Mountains later this week. At this time, no precipitation is forecast to fall.

Saturday through Monday...the upper ridge flattens over the weekend across the Desert Southwest, with more zonal westerly flow setting up across Colorado. Weak energy moving through the flow may produce a few light snow showers mainly across the Central Mountains Sunday into Monday. A cold front looks to impact the Plains by Sunday morning, with highs Sunday and Monday about 15 to 20 degrees cooler for highs. With the zonal flow aloft, elevated fire weather conditions look to spread east into the Plains over the weekend into early next week.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1113 PM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

VFR conditions anticipated across the forecast area over the next 24 hrs, including the three main TAF sites of KCOS, KPUB and KALS. Mentioned wind shear for KCOS and KPUB between 09z and 14z as sfc winds go light but W-NW winds just off the deck remain at 35 kts. Winds increase for all sites around 20z tomorrow with frequent gusts to 25-30 kts, lasting until around 02z tomorrow evening.

CLIMATE

Issued at 447 AM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

LCD sites March 17th-21st Record Highs

ALS...Tue...Mar 17...70F...2017 ALS...Wed...Mar 18...73F...2017 ALS...Thu...Mar 19...72F...1907 ALS...Fri...Mar 20...72F...2004 ALS...Sat...Mar 21...72F...1997

COS...Tue...Mar 17...74F...1908 COS...Wed...Mar 18...80F...2017 COS...Thu...Mar 19...80F...2017 COS...Fri...Mar 20...76F...2017 COS...Sat...Mar 21...75F...1995

PUB...Tue...Mar 17...80F...2007 PUB...Wed...Mar 18...85F...2017 PUB...Thu...Mar 19...86F...2017 PUB...Fri...Mar 20...84F...2017 PUB...Sat...Mar 21...82F...2016

The all time record March max temp for Alamosa .........is 76. The all time record March max temp for Colorado Springs is 81. The all time record March max temp for Pueblo ..........is 86.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday evening for COZ222-224.