textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Cooler and wetter weather remains on tap through tonight, with precipitation winding down from northeast to southwest through the day Friday.

- Moderate to heavy snowfall across the higher terrain, especially over and near the southeast mtns later this afternoon into tonight.

- Potential for a widespread freeze/frost across the southeast plains Friday night.

- Warmer and drier for the weekend, though may be enough lingering moisture to support afternoon showers over and near the higher terrain.

- More chances of precipitation next week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 105 AM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026

Water vapor imagery and upper air analysis has moderate west to southwest flow in place across the region, with an embedded shortwave translating across southern Colorado ahead of a broad upper trough digging across the Upper Midwest through the Northern Rockies at this time. Regional radars are indicating showers, with a few embedded thunderstorms associated with the passing embedded wave, across the eastern mtns into the I-25 Corridor and southeast plains at this time. Passing showers did bring some accumulating snowfall to the higher terrain in the Pikes Peak region, with CDOT webcams indicating some slushy roads in Cascade and Woodland Park earlier this evening, though are currently indicating generally wet roads as showers have diminished in intensity across Teller county. Further east, CDOT cams and observations continue to indicate rain into western and northern portions of El Paso county, as well as eastern Fremont into Pueblo county at this time.

For the rest of tonight, phase one of our multifaceted weather system will continue to spread showers out across the southeast plains, with uvv and waa associated with the passing embedded wave continues to push east into western Kansas through the early morning hours. Latest higher res models indicate most of the precipitation to remain liquid, with some light snow possibly mixing in across northern portions of El Paso county, with light snow and light accumulation on grassy areas possible across Teller county overnight.

There looks to be lull in precipitation over and near the higher terrain early in the morning, as well as across the plains after phase one precipitation moves into Kansas, before phase 2 kicks in, as the Northern Rockies trough continues to dig across the Central Rockies into tonight. This will bring another increase precipitation coverage and intensity, especially over and near the eastern mtns into the Upper Arkansas and Wet Mtn Valley, as albeit weak sfc-h7 easterly flow increases precipitation once again. Rain and snow, with snow levels between 7000-8000 feet, continues through the day, with snow levels dropping to between 6000-7000 feet through the late afternoon and evening, before precipitation diminishes from northeast to southwest Friday morning and afternoon. With that said, current winter weather highlights remain on track, with 8 to 16 inches across the Ramparts, Wets and Sangres, with the greatest amounts across east facing slopes. Snowfall of 5 to 10 inches remains possible across the higher terrain of Fremont county and the eastern slopes central mtns with 3 to 7 inches possible across the Wet Mtn Valley. A few inches, mainly on grassy areas, will also be possible across the middle and upper Arkansas River Valley, as well as portions of the southern I-25 corridor and over northern and western El Paso county. There will likely be tight gradients in snowfall and accumulations across the higher terrain.

Latest models do indicate light to moderate snowfall across the eastern slopes of the Eastern San Juan Mtns Friday afternoon and evening, and we may need to issue an advisory when it gets closer in time. Otherwise, will see precipitation winding down and ending from northeast to southwest through the day Friday, as drier air filters into the region. With clearing skies overnight, there could be areas of frost across the plains, with temperatures falling at to slightly below freezing Saturday morning.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 105 AM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026

A warming and drying trend remains on tap for the weekend, as upper level ridging builds back across the Rockies. There may be enough lingering moisture to support a few afternoon showers across the higher terrain. Latest models continue to differ on the timing and location of the next system looking to bring chances of precipitation to the region through the middle of next week.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 528 AM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026

Unsettled weather is expected across KALS, KCOS, and KPUB through 24 hours. Low clouds in the MVFR-IFR range are expected throughout today and tonight, with rain showers and some thunderstorms moving in and out.

Best chances for showers and storms are at KCOS this afternoon, followed by KPUB with lowest confidence in precip at KALS. Regardless, showers will remain in the vicinity, spread across the area through the next 24 hours. If convective showers or thunderstorms move over a terminal, expect brief periods of more gusty winds, as well as stronger precip and LIFR conditions.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory until noon MDT Friday for COZ058-063- 076-078. Winter Storm Warning until midnight MDT Friday night for COZ072>075-079-080. Winter Storm Warning until noon MDT Friday for COZ081-082.