textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Strong/Damaging winds over the Higher terrain spreads across the Plains early this morning behind a strong cold front bringing much colder temperatures today.

- A period of wind driven snow across the Pikes Peak region early this morning, with wind driven snow across the central mountains continues through the day.

- Critical fire weather conditions across the San Luis Valley.

- Very warm potentially record breaking temperatures for the middle to end of next week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 1249 AM MDT Sun Mar 15 2026

Current water vapor imagery and upper air analysis has increasing northwest flow aloft across the region, as a strong short wave and jet core continues to dig across the Northern Rockies at this time. Observations are indicating strong winds of 30 to 60 mph over and near the higher terrain early this morning, with a strong cold front associated with the passing wave just moving into northeastern Colorado at this time. Temperatures remain very warm in the 50s and 60s across the plains, and mainly in the 30s and 40s across the higher terrain early this morning, with temperatures in the 20s behind the front in Wyoming at this time.

Latest model data supports increasing flow over the higher terrain with current high wind warnings in place across the Central mountains and Sangre de Cristo mountains through the day still in good shape, with gusts of 70 to 80 mph possible through the morning, before winds diminish through the afternoon as the wave continues to push east into the High Plains. Starting to see westerly gusts of 50 to 60 mph in the lee of the Sangres as well as in the lee of Rampart range, where a brief mountain wave did develop gusts of 60 to 70 mph across eastern Teller county into western El Paso county early this evening. Further east across the plains, latest model data indicates the front pushing the Palmer Divide between 08Z-09Z, with strong northerly winds of 40 to 60 mph developing and spreading south and west across all of the plains by 12Z. The strongest winds will persist east of the I-25 Corridor through the early afternoon, with the potential for blowing dust across plains, which have not seen as much precipitation this month as areas along and west of the I-25 Corridor. Decreasing gradient flow through the late afternoon could lead to high wind warnings in place across the plains being cancelled earlier than the current scheduled time of 7 PM MDT.

As for precipitation, higher res models continue to indicate a band of driven snow developing across the central mtns overnight, and behind the passing front across northern Teller county/Palmer Divide between 08Z-10Z, with scattered showers translating south across the plains through the morning, before much drier air filtering into the region behind the passing wave ends precipitation. Models continue to indicate 2 to 5 inches of snow possible across the Central Mtns, greatest north of Cottonwood Pass, with blowing snow and icy roads creating hazardous travel conditions through much of the morning. With strong fgen associated with the passing front across the plains, there could be very hazardous travel early this morning with the banded snow across the Pikes Peak region. Can't rule out a quick 1 to 2 inches of accumulation, with strong winds creating near white conditions. With strong caa behind the front, could also see flash freezing of the roads, with the potentially high snowfall rates.

Had to continue the trend of lowering NBM temperatures today, with the strong caa keeping highs mainly in the 30s across the plains, with 20s, 30s and 40s expected across the higher terrain. With the very dry air filtering into the region, and gusty northerly winds, the current Red Flag Warning for the San Luis Valley remains on track from 11 AM to 8 PM. The dry air, and decreasing winds will allow for overnight lows to fall well below seasonal levels in the single digits and teens areawide, leading to potential foliage damage to those plants that have already started to bloom.

LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 1249 AM MDT Sun Mar 15 2026

Strong northerly flow aloft Sunday night moderates through the day Monday, with a reprieve of fire weather conditions expected. There may still be spotty critical fire weather conditions across the San Luis Valley, as temperatures warm to around seasonal levels into the 50s across the lower elevations, with 30s and 40s expected across the higher terrain. There also could be a few showers across the central mtns, as the flow aloft helps squeeze out any lingering moisture.

For Tuesday onward, upper level ridging looks to rebuild across the region, bringing the potential for spotty critical fire weather conditions to portions of south central and southeast Colorado, as well as very warm temperatures from the middle of the week into weekend. March record high temperatures of 76F in Alamosa, 81F in Colorado Springs and 86F in Pueblo and will be challenged and likely broken.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1034 PM MDT Sat Mar 14 2026

At KCOS, VFR the next 24 hrs, though a quick -shsn 09z-14z could briefly (15-30 minutes) drop cigs/vis to MVFR. Winds will remain gusty (20-30 kts) out of the west until 08z, then switch to northerly behind a strong cold front after 08z. Gusts of 40-50 kts are possible after the fropa, continuing until 18z, before speeds slowly subside late Sun afternoon into the evening.

At KPUB, VFR the next 24 hrs. Gusty (20-30 kts) west winds this evening will switch to northerly after 09z, with gusts over 40 kts likely 09z-18z, before speeds slowly subside through the afternoon. Could see some brief (less than 30 minutes) MVFR visibility due to blowing dust immediately following the fropa, but won't include it in the taf at this point. North winds then slowly subside late Sun afternoon into the evening.

At KALS, VFR the next 24 hrs. W-SW winds will persist overnight, occasionally gusting over 20 kts. Winds turn nly around 11z as a cold front moves through, with gusts 30-40 kts likely through the day. Could see some brief lower visibility due to blowing dust during the day Sunday, but confidence in occurrence is too low (20 percent) to include in the taf at this point. Winds then diminish to light nly Sun evening.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory until 3 PM MDT this afternoon for COZ058-060. High Wind Warning until 3 PM MDT this afternoon for COZ060-061- 072>075-087. Red Flag Warning from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ224. High Wind Warning until 7 PM MDT this evening for COZ084>086- 088-089-093>099.