textproduct: Pueblo

KEY MESSAGES

- Continued hot, dry and windy conditions will lead to high fire danger for today and Saturday, with more of a high end event possible for Saturday.

- System passing by Saturday night and Sunday is trending stronger.

- An exceptionally warm and dry pattern is developing starting Tuesday and lasting through the extended forecast period, with daily, and possibly monthly, temperature records possible.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 1235 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2026

Currently...Strong west-northwest flow aloft was keeping the lower levels well-mixed and rather mild this evening, with locations still in the 40s and 50s as of 11 PM. A good amount of high level cloudiness was streaming across the state, and will likely linger into the morning hours. Lows are forecast to be in the 30s and 40s for most spots by sunrise, with 20s for the San Luis Valley.

Today and Tonight...Upper pattern does not change much through the day today, so plan on another very warm, dry and gusty day across the region. Relative humidity this afternoon drops down into the 5 to 15 percent range for much of the area, so a Red Flag Warning remains in effect today from 11 AM until 8 PM for the I-25 Corridor, Fremont County, the San Luis Valley, and Lake, Chaffee, Crowley, Otero and eastern Las Animas counties. High temps are forecast to climb into the 60s again for the high valleys, and 70s to near 80F for the plains. Another night of potentially mild low temps tonight, with mid 30s to mid 40s for most areas, and 20s for the San Luis Valley.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 1235 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2026

Saturday...The weekend is gearing up to be a busy one. The incoming Pacific NW system, that had looked like a shortwave the past few days, has now trended stronger which has ramifications for Sat night into Sunday. For the day though, day number 3 of widespread critical fire weather conditions is on tap. The approaching system will tighten the pressure gradient and really enhance the winds across CO. Downslope flow will increase, boost high temps up to another 5 degrees over readings on Friday, and the area of single digit minimum RH values grows even more. Winds gusts through the afternoon may reach 45 to 55 mph along the I-25 Corridor, and up to 65 mph across the higher terrain. Therefore, went ahead and upgraded the existing Fire Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning, and added Fire Zone 220 - Lake and Chaffee counties - to the warning as well. As for temps highs will climb into the 60s to around 70F for the high valleys, and mid 70s to mid 80s for the plains.

Saturday night and Sunday...As mentioned, the incoming system has trended stronger and will dig further south across Colorado. Latest guidance is showing a bit more snow potential, with new snow totals through Sunday morning of 2 to 4 inches for the central mts, 2 to 3 inches for Teller County, up to 2 inches for the Palmer Divide, and up to an inch for El Paso County and the eastern slopes of the eastern mts. The associated cold front will blast south across the Palmer Divide after midnight, with strong north winds gusting as high as 50 to 60 mph lingering across the eastern plains through Sunday morning. A comparison between highs on Saturday, and highs on Sunday, will show a 25 to 30 degree drop for the high valleys, and up to a 40 degree difference across the eastern plains. Plan on cold, breezy and cloudy day.

Monday...The system exits the area to the east and brisk north to northwest flow aloft settles in across the Rocky Mt region. There may be some lingering snow showers across the central mts, otherwise cool and dry with lighter winds. Long range models are trending towards highs in the 50s for most locations, which is normal for this time of year.

Tuesday through Thursday...Blended model guidance still shows an upper ridge pushing from the west and dominating the western half of the country. This is the start of a serious heating and drying trend, and likely daily fire weather concerns, though how strong winds will be are still a question. Daily, and possibly monthly, temperature records will be possible. Moore

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1100 PM MDT Thu Mar 12 2026

All three terminals will see bouts of high level cloudiness and VFR conditions.

Winds have decreased at KCOS and may shift around from a northeast to even easterly direction late tonight into Friday morning. This has increased the potential for low level wind shear (LLWS) and have introduced this into the TAF through 15z. Depth of light southeasterly winds in an eddy downwind of Pikes Peak should increase taking wind shear above 2kft level after 15z with southwest to west winds quickly ramping up after 16-18z with gusts to 35 kts possible.

Meanwhile, gusty westerly winds are more likely to continue at KPUB through the night which decreases the risk for LLWS and will maintain these elevated winds through the overnight hours. Winds will increase again on Friday with gusts up to 35 kts possible through the afternoon.

Winds will be lighter at KALS and switch around to a southerly direction late tonight through Friday morning. West northwest winds will spread down into the terminal again after 20z before decreasing by 02z. -KT

PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ220-222-224>233. Red Flag Warning from 11 AM to 10 PM MDT Saturday for COZ220>222-224>237.