textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Critical Fire Weather conditions along the Continental Divide today and Thursday, then more spotty into the weekend.

- Warming trend starts Thursday, with 100 degree readings across the eastern plains Friday through Monday.

- Dry region-wide through Saturday, then moisture slowly increases over the higher terrain from Sunday onward.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 1241 PM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

Currently...Stratus has been fairly persistent across the far eastern plains this morning, but cleared quickly along the I-25 Corridor. This has made for a very nice day for most areas, with temps in the 70s and 80s as of 1230 PM. A few meager CU are starting to develop over the ridges. As for the upper pattern, an upper ridge remains over the Four Corners, while brisk W-NW flow aloft persists across the northern Rockies.

Tonight and tomorrow...little change to the overall pattern. Showers and thunderstorms will have the best chance along the southern border late this afternoon and evening, with the main storm threat expected to be gusty winds. Overnight lows are expected to cool into the 40s to around 50F for the high valleys, and mid 50s to lower 60s for the plains, and low clouds overnight are not forecast. Warmer and more dry conditions are anticipated for tomorrow, and combined with afternoon wind gusts, will produce critical fire weather conditions along the Continental Divide through the afternoon. More spotty fire danger will be possible as well across the San Luis Valley and across Fremont County along the Arkansas River Valley, but coverage does not look large enough to warrant a highlight for those areas. Isolated showers and perhaps a thunderstorm or two will be possible by mid-afternoon, mainly over the higher terrain and along the southern border. Plan on highs in the 90s for most locations, and nearing 100F for the eastern plains.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1241 PM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

Friday through Sunday...Upper ridge amplifies over the Four Corners for Fri and Sat, and hot, dry conditions settle in. High temps each day are expected to climb into the upper 80s to lower 90s for the high valleys, and mid 90s to low 100s for the plains. By Sunday the high pressure begins to flatten out, and the center of the ridge shifts slightly to the west. Long range models are trending towards a gradual increase in moisture for the higher terrain, but the plains will remain dry. Given how hot it will be, spotty critical fire weather conditions will definitely develop. Currently, wind gusts seem to be the limiting factor and will restrict areal coverage.

Monday through Wednesday...Monday still looks to be a very hot day regionwide, with afternoon readings similar to the weekend. However, around 5 degrees of cooling is then forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, likely in response to increasing precipitation chances and cloud cover. Shower and thunderstorm chances jump up considerably for the start of the next work week, mainly over the higher terrain but also spilling over across the I-25 Corridor. Unfortunately, the far eastern plains stay dry at this time. If this precip forecast persists, look for max temp forecasts to start cooling even more over the next few days. Moore

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 500 PM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

Cigs will remain VFR through this evening with gusty erratic winds from -SHRA possible at KALS through 02z. Otherwise expect clearing skies and decreasing winds. KCOS and KPUB could see some MVFR stratus develop towards morning and given higher dew points and light upslope flow, will carry a tempo group for this in both terminals. Otherwise, expect clear skies by 15-16z for all three terminals with increasing southeast winds in the afternoon for KCOS and KPUB and northwest winds for KALS. -KT

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning until 7 PM MDT this evening for COZ220. Red Flag Warning from noon to 7 PM MDT Thursday for COZ220-223.