textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Rain and snow chances continue today, tapering off through this evening. Travel impacts are possible for the evening commute, especially over the Palmer Divide!

- Saturday's forecast brings near normal temperatures and drying conditions, with minimal winds and lots of sunshine.

- A warming a drying trend is expected for Sunday through the first half of next week, along with the return of critical fire weather conditions.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 1146 AM MST Fri Mar 6 2026

Rest of Today and Tonight..

As the system continues to push overhead, instability reaches a peak over the next few hours. This will be the most likely window for convective showers and possibly even a few rumbles of thunder. Models indicate the most likely areas for this type of activity will be Fremont, Pueblo, southern El Paso, Crowley, and Otero counties, along with the Wet Mountains and the Wet Mountain Valley. In these areas, locally higher precip amounts may be possible. Highlight-wise though, have decided to hold steady with Advisories for all areas. Though some areas may see higher snow amounts, there is also of melting going on as well, which may help to minimize impacts in some areas that may be borderline on hitting warning criteria briefly. Other than these areas possibly achieving higher precip amounts, event total total forecast snowfall amounts have largely remained unchanged.

Blowing snow will be another factor to consider for the evening commute, especially across northern El Paso County. A secondary northerly push of gusty winds comes through late this afternoon, which will cause gusty winds in northern and eastern El Paso. As temperatures dip towards the evening rush hour, travel conditions may get dicey over the Palmer Divide. This second push of northerly winds does eventually help to shut down precip chances in southern El Paso and Pueblo Counties though as dry downsloping takes over. In general, snow comes to an end from north to south throughout the evening hours, with only the eastern Sangres and the Wets keeping snowfall chances throughout midnight. All areas are expected to be dry by the early morning hours of Saturday. Overnight lows tonight look to remain fairly close to seasonal normals, with temperatures falling into the teens and 20s across our plains and mountain valleys.

Tomorrow..

Saturday looks to be fairly quiet transition sort of day, with near normal temperatures and sunny skies for most areas. Locations with snow cover on the ground may keep daytime highs slightly cooler than currently forecast. With all the melting currently going on across the area, lots of melting and temperature recovery is expected for tomorrow as well. Despite tomorrow's temperatures being "near normal," we will probably feel quite cool considering how much warmer than normal we have been of late. Highs look to remain in the mid to upper 40s for mountain valleys and the Pikes Peak region, with 50s for our plains. Winds will be weak by Colorado standards, with westerly gusts looking to stay around 25 mph or less over our higher peaks, and even lesser winds elsewhere.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 1146 AM MST Fri Mar 6 2026

The long term forecast is a bit messier, but in general Colorado looks to remain in westerly to northwesterly flow. Models bring a low onshore over the Baja Peninsula through the first half of the week, keeping its impacts mainly south of Colorado. At the same time, a strong jet passes/persists to our north. While remain on the fringes of its strongest influence, increased west winds do look to return for Sunday through mid-week, along with above normal temperatures and the return of critical fire weather conditions. Highs look to be back into the 60s and 70s on the plains. A cold front looks possible by Wednesday, but rain and snow chances look minimal with its passing. If trends continue, we'll dry back out and warm back up by late next week.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1028 AM MST Fri Mar 6 2026

Weather disturbance will be moving through the fcst area during the first half of this fcst period bringing rain and snow showers to the 3 taf sites, KPUB, KALS and KCOS. Periods of mvfr and IFR conditions are anticipated. Main area of precip should end prior to 00 UTC later today with some light showers thereafter. Clearing skies are expected during the early morning hours but will have to watch for some lingering fog at each of the taf sites. VFR should be develop tomorrow mid morning.

Breezy NW winds will be likely this afternoon and evening at the 3 taf sites.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory until midnight MST tonight for COZ058>063-068-072>082-084.