textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

KEY MESSAGES...

- Cooler Tue/Wed with widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms over and near the mountains and accumulating snow across the Continental Divide

- Becoming breezy and warm Thursday with increasing fire danger

- Track of the late week weather system remains north of the area, though srn end of the trough and cold front could bring cooler temps and a few showers Fri/Sat

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 102 PM MDT Mon Mar 30 2026

High level cloudiness has limited mixing slightly late this morning/early this afternoon, though as of 1 pm, several locations were beginning to see west winds gusting 20-30 mph, and humidity fallen below 15 percent as well. For the rest of the afternoon, expect winds to continue to increase over the mountains and interior valleys, while winds decrease slightly over the eastern plains where surface pressure gradient relaxes. Have kept the Red Flag Warning in place as winds will remain gusty and humidity low, with potential virga/weak showers producing locally gusty/erratic winds into the evening as well. Overnight, winds stay breezy in spots, keeping min temps above freezing over all but the higher peaks and highest valleys.

On Tuesday, nrn stream wave sends a cold front through the area the first half of the day, while over the mountains, moisture and upward motion slowly increase as main upper trough along the West Coast moves toward the Great Basin. Expect most locations to stay dry until mid-late afternoon, then shower chances begin to increase, especially along the Continental Divide where moist w-sw orographic upslope flow develops. Max temps Tue will run 5-15 degf cooler than Mon's numbers, though still way above average for this time of year. Upper trough moves through the Great Basin Tuesday night, with showers widespread across srn CO, and even a thunderstorm possible over the mountains. Have hoisted a Winter Weather Advisory for the high peaks along the Continental Divide, where snow level starts around 10k feet in the evening, falling to between 8-9k feet by Wed morning. SW component to mid-level flow suggest ern San Juans favored for heavier snow, with several inches of accumulation likely around Wolf Creek Pass. Plains miss out on most precip overnight Tue, with showers staying mainly along and west of I-25.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 133 PM MDT Mon Mar 30 2026

For Wednesday, upper trough moves through CO, bringing widespread rain and snow showers to the region, especially in the afternoon and evening. Likely just enough instability in the afternoon with cooling temps aloft to generate some thunderstorms as well, especially over the higher terrain. Snow will continue over the higher mountains, with snow levels remaining between 8-9k feet through the day. As system exits and mid level circulation tracks across the region Wed evening, many models/ensembles show a burst of heavier convective precip in the Pikes Peak region, with QPF of over a half inch possible, especially along the Palmer Divide. If precip is intense enough, we might even see a changeover to snow near/below 7000 feet for a few hours Wed evening, and while current forecast keeps precip all rain at this point, won't be too surprised to see a burst of heavy wet snow around Monument/Black Forest before precip ends across most of the area early Thu morning.

For Thu, a quick transition back to warm and windy weather is expected, as upper low spins up over the nrn Rockies, leading to deep w-sw flow and dry conditions over srn CO. Will likely need some Fire Weather highlights for portions of the area Thu afternoon and evening, though precip Tue/Wed may temper conditions somewhat, and will hold off on any issuance until precip amounts and locations are better defined. Temps Thu will pop back up to well above seasonal averages, with 80s returning to the plains.

Track of the late week upper low and trough continues to stay well north of the area in latest ensemble/model data, though associated cold front and south end of the trough will move through CO late Fri/Fri night bringing cooler air at a few showers to roughly the nrn half of the state, along with cooler max temps both Fri/Sat. Upper ridge starts to rebuild Sun into early next week, bringing back warm and dry weather to srn CO.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1150 AM MDT Mon Mar 30 2026

VFR conditions are anticipated at COS, PUB and ALS over the next 24 hours. Breezy westerlies to persist at the terminals through the afternoon. North to northwest drainage winds at COS and PUB through the late evening become breezy east to northeast at the tail end of the taf period, as a cold front pushes south and west across the plains through Tuesday morning.

CLIMATE

Issued at 113 AM MDT Sun Mar 29 2026

March 30th Records... Pueblo: 83 in 2010, 1986, and 1946 Colorado Springs: 78 in 2010 Alamosa: 71 in 2015

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM Tuesday to 9 PM MDT Wednesday for COZ058-060-066-068. Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ221-222- 224-227>237.