textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Cooler and breezy today.

- Near normal and warmer than normal temperatures, along with mainly dry weather, are expected for Friday through the weekend.

- A pattern change is possible through the first half of next week, though details are still unclear.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 212 AM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

Current water vapor imagery and upper air analysis has moderate to strong northwest flow aloft across the region with an upper trough translating across the Rockies at this time. Satellite imagery has clouds thinning out across eastern Colorado, with clouds thickening across the northern and central mtns within the northwesterly orographic flow. Regional radars are indicating a orographic snow showers across the northern and central mtns, with Leadville indicating light snowfall as of 1 am.

Latest model data supports no changes to the ongoing forecast, with moderating northerly flow across the region through the day, which increases again late tonight, as another short wave translates down the backside of the upper ridge across the Intermountain West.

With that said, will see breezy northerly winds across the region today, which diminish through the afternoon and early evening. Will continue to some light snow across the northern and central mtns this morning, which diminishes through the afternoon as moisture slowly thins out within the northerly orographic flow. Highs today to be generally cooler than yesterday mainly in the 40s across plains, with 20s and 30s across the higher terrain and 30s to low 40s across the high mtn valleys. Seasonally cool overnight temperatures in the single digits and teens are expected tonight, save for 20s across the banana belt.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 212 AM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

Friday..

For now, we remain just west of another bout of cold air and snow chances for the Friday into Saturday timeframe. Our far eastern plains may keep daytime highs in the 40s, and we may even see slight chances for snow showers over our far eastern plains Friday night, but for now, the main system and its impacts look to stay to our east. If this trend continues, that will mean another day of near normal highs on the plains, with slightly warmer than normal temperatures for our mountains valleys. 40s and low 50s can be expected for all lower elevation locations. Dry weather and fairly light winds can be expected for most through the afternoon, with slightly breezier north winds persisting on our far eastern plains.

Friday Night Through Sunday..

Northwest flow persists through the weekend, leading to a gradual warming and drying trend as a ridge axis sits to our west. Near normal overnight lows can be expected for Friday night, with most plains locations dipping down into the teens above zero, and the San Luis Valley cooling to just a few degrees above zero. Daytime highs on Saturday remain cool further east, but begin to warm up over and near the mountains. Our mountain adjacent plains look to be the warmest on Saturday, with downsloping winds picking up and heating things up into the mid 50s or so for lower elevations along and and west of the I-25 corridor. We warm up even more efficiently for all areas on Sunday, as the influence of the Great Lakes low moves further east and westerly flow increases over the region. All areas look to remain dry both days, with winds remaining on the weak side.

Monday onwards..

Monday looks to be a transition day, though models still lack consistency on the evolution of our incoming pattern change. Monday could end up being a critical fire weather day, though winds appear to be marginal at this point. Daytime highs on Monday will likely still be warmer than normal, with the cool down holding off until Tuesday. Models show two possible scenarios. The first would be a warmer system coming in around Tuesday from the south, bringing snow chances to the mountains, and possibly both rain and snow to the plains. The second scenario paints a low diving down out of the northern plains toward eastern Colorado closer to the Wednesday timeframe, bringing cooler temperatures and more favorable conditions for snow. This solution is most favored by the GFS and GEFS ensemble members. Confidence in either scenario is low given the amount of model inconsistency, but it does seem likely that a pattern change towards precip chances and cooler temperatures will be possible by the Tuesday or Wednesday timeframe of next week.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1029 AM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

KCOS, KPUB, KALS: VFR conditions are expected over the next 24 hours. Winds will be gusty this afternoon at all three TAF sites as modest diurnal mixing becomes established. Winds are expected to quickly lessen heading into the evening hours and remain light and variable through tomorrow morning. Beyond that, other than some high clouds early in the TAF period, clear skies and dry conditions are anticipated.

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.