textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- One more day of record breaking warmth Thursday with widespread critical fire weather conditions across southern CO on Thursday.

- Strong cold front moves through the plains tonight bringing significantly cooler temperatures for Friday.

- Warmer temperatures return with increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms over the mountains and spotty critical fire weather conditions for the valleys and I-25 corridor.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 1253 AM MDT Thu Mar 26 2026

Flow aloft increases today as the southern CA upper trough advances eastward across CO. Gusty west winds will spread across the mountains, valleys and into the southeast plains through the afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to eclipse record highs again today and with single digit relative humidity values, conditions will be favorable for fire spread. Red Flag Warnings have been issue for most of southern Colorado which still looks on target. The upper trough passing across the northern Rockies/high plains will send a cold front into southeast plains this afternoon and evening. Strong northeasterly winds will accompany the frontal passage with gusts up to 40 mph possible as it backdoors westward towards the southeast mountains between 21z and 03z. Some elevated convection will be possible late this afternoon and evening with inverted V soundings suggesting the potential for dry lightning if convection is deep enough, especially across the Pikes Peak region. Some HREF members show some elevated convection along the front across the far eastern plains, though CAPE doesn't look as great out that way. Will carry some isolated pops across northern and eastern portions of the area late this afternoon.

The shallow cold front will bank up along the eastern slopes of the southeast mountains with widespread stratus and even some upslope showers developing in and near the southeast mountains tonight. Trimmed back pops closer to the mountains as lift should be primarily upslope driven once lower levels saturate. Precipitation amounts will be light and likely not enough to be considered a wetting event (QPF of 0.10 or more), but humidity recovery will be good. Snow levels will drop to around 8000 feet by morning with the potential for a mix down to 6500 feet. Any accumulations will be under an inch and mainly confined to the Pikes Peak region.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1253 AM MDT Thu Mar 26 2026

It will be cloudy and much cooler for Friday across the plains with highs in the 40s and 50s. The valleys and mountains will see a cool down as well, as heights aloft decrease, but temperatures will still rebound into the 50s and 60s for the valleys and a mix of 40s and 50s for the interior mountains. Residual moisture and afternoon heating will result in isolated to scattered afternoon showers across the mountains, though precipitation amounts look light.

Saturday warms up and dries out with temperatures rebounding back into the 80s across portions of the southeast plains. Lee troughing will bring increasing winds and spotty critical fire weather conditions may return to the valleys and portions of the I-25 corridor.

Southwest flow continues into next week with progressive shortwaves embedded within the southern stream bringing periodic showers and thunderstorms to the mountains. Temperatures will remain above normal, but not as hot as recent days. Precipitation amounts remain on the light side for the first wave on Sunday with best chances along the Continental Divide. A stronger mid week upper trough may bring some more meaningful precipitation to the mountains on Wednesday. -KT

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 515 AM MDT Thu Mar 26 2026

VFR conditions are expected to persist at KALS through the entire forecast period, with MVFR conditions possible at KCOS and KPUB near the end of the period. Gusty winds are expected through the daytime hours today, with gusts to 25kt possible at each station. Mid-level clouds and virga may be possible, mainly near KCOS, this afternoon. A cold front pushes through KCOS and KPUB this evening around 00Z, bringing in gusty north winds and lowering cloud decks.

CLIMATE

Issued at 143 PM MDT Wed Mar 25 2026

March 26th Standing Records...

Pueblo: 84 in 2022 and 2004 Colorado Springs: 81 in 1971 Alamosa: 73 in 1971

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ220>222-224-225-227>237.