textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Passing system to bring showers to the Northern and Central mountains tonight, with a few showers possible across Pikes Peak region and northern portions of the southeast plains.

- A dry and seasonal Wednesday with spotty elevated fire danger.

- Breezy and warm Thursday with the return of widespread critical fire weather conditions - Next storm system brings cooler and unsettled weather for Friday and Saturday, along with the potential for widespread sub-freezing temperatures Saturday and Sunday mornings.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 231 PM MDT Tue Apr 14 2026

Water vapor imagery and satellite data indicates upper low currently spinning across west central Colorado, with drier air within the moderate southwest flow aloft starting to filter across southern Colorado. Regional radars indicating scattered showers, and a few embedded thunderstorms spreading across the higher terrain at this time. Strengthening lee trough across the plains has helped to develop breezy south to southwest winds across southern portions of the plains at this time, with gusty southwest winds in place across the higher terrain.

Latest model data remains in good agreement of said upper low weakening as it continues to lift out into northeastern Colorado this evening, with a broad upper trough then continuing into the Northern High Plains through the day on Wednesday. This will keep showers and a few embedded thunderstorms spreading out across the the Northern and Central mtns this afternoon, with a few possible showers across the Pikes Peak region and Palmer Dvd region through the evening as the passing waves cold front pushes south and east through the late evening and into early Wednesday morning. Passing showers could produce a quick inch or two of snow, with snow levels down to around 7500 feet this evening with the passing wave. Gusty southwest winds of 20 to 40 mph across the plains this afternoon become more west to northwest through the evening before diminishing behind said cold front overnight. This will keep critical fire weather conditions in place through the early evening, with current Red Flag Warning in place through 8 pm MDT. Cooler air associated with the passing wave will bring in cooler overnight lows mainly in the 30s across the plains, with teens and 20s expected across the higher terrain.

Drier air within the the moderating west to northwest flow aloft will keep dry conditions in place tomorrow, save for a few possible showers across the Central mtns, with temperatures expected to be at to slightly above seasonal norms in the 60s to low 70s across the plains, and mainly in the 40s and 50s across the higher terrain. Afternoon westerly breezes could bring some spotty elevated fire danger to the interior valleys and gap prone areas, however coverage will not be enough to warrant any fire weather highlights.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 231 PM MDT Tue Apr 14 2026

Latest model data is also in good agreement of increasing west to southwest flow aloft across the region on Thursday, as the next upper trough out the Pacific Northwest digs across the Intermountain West. This will keep warm and dry conditions in place, and with gusty westerly winds, support more widespread critical fire weather conditions on Thursday, with current Fire Weather Watch for most of south central and southeast Colorado remain in place.

Models are trending faster the broad upper trough translating across the Rockies through the day on Friday, bringing a quick shot of precipitation to the region Friday into Friday night. This system is progged to be colder than previous systems, with snow levels down to between 6000-7000 on Friday. The quicker movement of the system and associated cold front early Friday morning looks to keep critical fire weather conditions at bay on Friday, with high temperatures across the plains likely being reached early in the day, with cooling and breezy northerly winds being progged behind the front.

With the colder air in place behind the passing system, overnight lows look to be well below freezing in the teens and 20s into Saturday morning. Those who may have already turned on irrigation systems or planted will need to monitor the forecast and may want to take proactive steps to prevent any damage from the projected sub-freezing temperatures. Dry conditions with below seasonal temperatures in the 50s and 60s can be expected on Saturday across the plains, with highs in the 40s and 50s across the higher terrain. Another period of at and below freezing temperatures in the 20s and 30s is expected Saturday night into Sunday morning, will lead to warming trend into early next week, as upper level ridging builds back across the Rockies.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 534 PM MDT Tue Apr 14 2026

VFR conditions are anticipated during the next 24 hours at all 3 taf sites, KPUB, KALS and KCOS.

A cold front will cross the KCOS and KPUB taf sites this evening, with winds initially being gusty from the southwest, then becoming northerly this evening. Winds will be lighter tomorrow across the region.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Fire Weather Watch from Thursday morning through Thursday evening for COZ220>222-224>237. Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ227>237.