textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- High fire danger continues each afternoon into Saturday.

- Snow ends over the Central Mountains by Thursday morning.

- Above normal temperatures remain in place through the weekend.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 1151 AM MST Wed Feb 25 2026

Currently...brisk northwest flow aloft continues across Colorado. This has allowed for mixing with temperatures warming into the upper 60s to lower 70s for the I-25 corridor, with cooler conditions in the 50s near the Kansas border. Where it has mixing, gusty northwest winds have developed, with gusts in some areas near 40 mph. The combination of strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures have allowed for dangerous fire weather conditions across portions of the Plains this afternoon. Across the higher terrain, light snow continues to fall from the La Garita Range, north across the Central Mountains.

Rest of today and tonight...northwesterly flow continues through the overnight hours. Snow looks to wind down across the Central Mountains overnight, with a few lingering snow flurries left by morning. Any additional accumulations will be minor, less than an inch, north of Cottonwood Pass. Models have also dried out areas on the Palmer Divide, with no precipitation expected with the latest forecast. Winds will remain elevated along the lee slopes of the Eastern Mountains, helping to keep overnight lows on the mild side. Lows will fall off into the 30s and 40s across the Plains, with teens and 20s across the San Luis Valley.

Thursday...northwest flow will continue across the region Thursday with another round of elevated fire weather conditions for parts of the Plains. Winds will mix by the late morning to early afternoon, with gusts in excess of 40 mph possible for the I-25 corridor. Humidity values will be a bit higher, in the 10 to 15 percent range. That being said, another Red Flag Warning is in effect for parts of the I-25 corridor. Afternoon temperatures will warm back into the 60s and 70s across the Plains. Any snow that lingers over the Central Mountains during the early morning hours will end early on.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1151 AM MST Wed Feb 25 2026

Models in decent agreement through the weekend, before big differences arrive early next week.

Thursday night into Sunday...northwest flow will give way to flat upper ridging across Colorado over the weekend. Another round of gusty winds is expected on Friday, with another Fire Weather Watch in place for parts of the I-25 corridor. Winds look more marginal, however, humidity values will fall into the single digits. Afternoon high temperatures on Friday will reach into the 60s and 70s across the Plains.

As flow flattens to more zonal westerly over the weekend, the fire weather conditions look to subside a bit. Humidity values will remain low, but winds will begin to weaken on Saturday, and further on Sunday. Overall, temperatures look to remain warm, with widespread 60s and 70s across the region.

Monday into Wednesday...models differ greatly early to mid next week with the evolution and track of an upper low. Guidance brings the upper system from southern California, east. The spread in the guidance is high, with track as far north as Utah, and as far south of old Mexico. The GFS is most bullish with precipitations, with a track across the Desert Southwest, while the ECMWF is furthest north and keeps much of southern Colorado dry including the mountains. All solutions are bringing cooler air into the area, with more seasonal daytime highs early next week.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 443 PM MST Wed Feb 25 2026

VFR conditions are expected at all three TAF sites, KCOS, KPUB, and KALS, for the next 24 hours. Winds are expected to weaken throughout this evening once the sun sets, with generally light and northwesterly winds overnight. Northwesterly winds increase again Thursday afternoon, mainly after 17Z, with gusts of 30 to 35kt possibe once again at all three stations. Few to scattered mid and upper-level clouds are likely through the forecast period.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory until midnight MST tonight for COZ058- 060. Red Flag Warning from 11 AM to 6 PM MST Thursday for COZ222- 226>230. Fire Weather Watch from Friday morning through Friday afternoon for COZ221-222-227>230. Red Flag Warning until 5 PM MST this afternoon for COZ226>233.