textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Flash flood threat continues through this evening as widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected across the region.

- Hot temperatures continue this weekend, along with mountain rain.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 239 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2026

Tonight: Active weather is expected heading into Thursday evening for parts of south central and southeastern Colorado. A wave will be passing over the region during the evening hours, bringing a modest uptick in forcing and support. These factors, in combination with high moisture in place, will allow for scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms to develop during the evening hours and into the early overnight hours. The greatest coverage of precipitation is expected across the eastern plains though, where outflows from earlier storms will help to initiate further storm development. Heavy rain, frequent lighting, and strong outflow winds to around 50 mph will be possible with any more organized thunderstorm. With that all said, as the wave pushes east and exits, any showers and storms across the area are expected to dissipate during the mid overnight hours, with dry conditions by Friday morning. Outside of all of that, mostly cloudy skies early tonight with give way to mostly clear skies by Friday morning as the wave exits, with winds remaining light outside of storms, generally less than 10 mph. Looking at temperatures, another mild July night is anticipated given the high moisture content. Lows for the plains will be in the mid 60s, in the mid 50s to low 60s for the valleys, and in the mid 40s to low 50s for the mountains.

Tomorrow: For Friday, active weather continues for south central and southeastern Colorado. With the shortwave gone, the ridge of high pressure will quickly reestablish itself as the dominant synoptic feature around the four corners region. Given this, weak and nebulous flow and support will be in place for south central and southeastern Colorado. However, abundant moisture will remain in place, and this, along with diurnal terrain circulations, will allow for scattered to numerous afternoon showers and storms to blossom along the higher terrain. In addition, some spillage across the valleys is anticipated as outflows push off the terrain, though generally lesser in coverage, with more isolated to scattered showers and storms. The plains are expected to remain mostly dry, though can't rule out an isolated shower or storm along the I-25 corridor area. Beyond all of that, mostly clear skies early will become partly cloudy during the afternoon hours, with winds still remaining fairly light, around and less than 10 mph, outside of thunderstorms. As for temperatures, another warm day is in store for south central and southeastern Colorado. The plains will warm into the mid to upper 90s, the valleys into the 80s to low 90s, and the mountains into the upper 50s to mid 70s.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 1229 AM MDT Thu Jul 23 2026

This Weekend Onwards...

As the upper high moves overhead, flow weakens aloft. Forcing for storms will significantly weaken, though recycling monsoon moisture will be plentiful enough to keep afternoon showers and storms going over the mountains. Meanwhile, the plains will dry out again, with triple-digit temperatures returning. Current long-range guidance suggests a wetter and potentially cooler (or at least less hot) pattern as we move into next week.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 537 PM MDT Thu Jul 23 2026

Ongoing showers and thunderstorms will diminish through mid evening, with the likelihood of any thunderstorms quickly lowering. Do think a stray shower with limited impacts will remain possible, and so have kept a VCSH at all sites this evening. Dry and VFR conditions are then expected for the remainder of the period.

Outflow boundaries have dictated the winds this past afternoon, but with limited precip development this evening, this should help winds lighten and become more diurnally driven, if not light and variable this evening.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Flash Flood Watch until midnight MDT tonight for COZ079-080- 086.