Special Weather Statement, NWS Pueblo, CO

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1246 PM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Critical Fire Weather conditions along the Continental Divide today
  and Thursday, then more spotty into the weekend.

- Warming trend starts Thursday, with 100 degree readings across
  the eastern plains Friday through Monday.

- Dry region-wide through Saturday, then moisture slowly
  increases over the higher terrain from Sunday onward.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1241 PM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

Currently...Stratus has been fairly persistent across the far
eastern plains this morning, but cleared quickly along the I-25
Corridor. This has made for a very nice day for most areas, with
temps in the 70s and 80s as of 1230 PM. A few meager CU are
starting to develop over the ridges. As for the upper pattern,
an upper ridge remains over the Four Corners, while brisk W-NW
flow aloft persists across the northern Rockies.

Tonight and tomorrow...little change to the overall pattern. Showers
and thunderstorms will have the best chance along the southern
border late this afternoon and evening, with the main storm threat
expected to be gusty winds. Overnight lows are expected to cool into
the 40s to around 50F for the high valleys, and mid 50s to lower 60s
for the plains, and low clouds overnight are not forecast. Warmer
and more dry conditions are anticipated for tomorrow, and combined
with afternoon wind gusts, will produce critical fire weather
conditions along the Continental Divide through the afternoon. More
spotty fire danger will be possible as well across the San Luis
Valley and across Fremont County along the Arkansas River Valley,
but coverage does not look large enough to warrant a highlight for
those areas. Isolated showers and perhaps a thunderstorm or two will
be possible by mid-afternoon, mainly over the higher terrain and
along the southern border. Plan on highs in the 90s for most
locations, and nearing 100F for the eastern plains.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1241 PM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

Friday through Sunday...Upper ridge amplifies over the Four Corners
for Fri and Sat, and hot, dry conditions settle in. High temps each
day are expected to climb into the upper 80s to lower 90s for the
high valleys, and mid 90s to low 100s for the plains. By Sunday the
high pressure begins to flatten out, and the center of the ridge
shifts slightly to the west. Long range models are trending towards
a gradual increase in moisture for the higher terrain, but the
plains will remain dry. Given how hot it will be, spotty critical
fire weather conditions will definitely develop. Currently, wind
gusts seem to be the limiting factor and will restrict areal
coverage.

Monday through Wednesday...Monday still looks to be a very hot day
regionwide, with afternoon readings similar to the weekend. However,
around 5 degrees of cooling is then forecast for Tuesday and
Wednesday, likely in response to increasing precipitation chances
and cloud cover. Shower and thunderstorm chances jump up
considerably for the start of the next work week, mainly over the
higher tarrin but also spilling over across the I-25 Corridor.
Unfortunately, the far eastern plains stay dry at this time. If this
precip forecast persists, look for max temp forecasts to start
cooling even more over the next few days. Moore

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1124 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

VFR conditions anticipated across the forecast area over the
next 24 hours, including the three main TAF sites of KCOS, KPUB
and KALS. Surface winds are expected to remain diurnal in
direction, with a brief period of gusts to around 20 KT this
afternoon.

&&

.PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning until 7 PM MDT this evening for COZ220.
Red Flag Warning from noon to 7 PM MDT Thursday for COZ220-223.

&&

SHORT TERM...MOORE
LONG TERM...MOORE
AVIATION...MOORE

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1128 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

COZ058>089-093>099-061300-
Western Mosquito Range/East Lake County Above 11000 Feet-
Leadville Vicinity/Lake County Below 11000 Feet-
Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Western Chaffee County Between 9000 and 11000 Feet-
Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Feet-
Western Mosquito Range/East Chaffee County Above 9000 Feet-
Saguache County West of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet-
Saguache County East of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet-
La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Upper Rio Grande Valley/Eastern San Juan Mountains Below
10000 Feet-Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Del Norte Vicinity/Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Alamosa  Vicinity/Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Southern San Luis Valley-
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 And 11000 Feet-
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Feet-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Northwestern Fremont County Above 8500 Feet-
Western/Central Fremont County Below 8500 Feet-
Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Wet Mountains between 6300 and 10000 Feet-
Wet Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Teller County/Rampart Range Above 7500 Feet/Pikes Peak Between
7500 And 11000 Feet-Pikes Peak Above 11000 Feet-
Canon City Vicinity/Eastern Fremont County-
Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below
7500 Feet-
Colorado Springs Vicinity/Southern El Paso County/Rampart Range
Below 7400 Feet-Pueblo Vicinity/Pueblo County Below 6300 Feet-
Walsenburg Vicinity/Upper Huerfano River Basin Below 7500 Feet-
Trinidad Vicinity/Western Las Animas County Below 7500 Feet-
Crowley County-La Junta Vicinity/Otero County-
Eastern Las Animas County-Western Kiowa County-
Eastern Kiowa County-Las Animas Vicinity/Bent County-
Lamar Vicinity/Prowers County-Springfield Vicinity/Baca County-
1128 AM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east
central...south central and southeast Colorado.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Critical fire weather conditions will develop this afternoon
across the Central Mountains due to gusty winds and low humidity.

An isolated thunderstorm may be possible from the Raton Mesa, east
along the New Mexico border this afternoon and early evening. Wind
gusts near 50 mph will be the main thunderstorm risk.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

High fire danger is forecast along the Continental Divide for
Thursday afternoon and evening due to gusty winds and low
humidity. Spotty near critical fire weather conditions will be
possible for mountain areas and the plains through the weekend.

Temperatures will be hot beginning Friday and persisting into
early next week. High temperatures on the plains will reach the
mid 90s to lower 100s.

Very isolated thunderstorm activity may be possible across the
mountains each afternoon. More widespread shower and thunderstorm
activity is possible early to mid next week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather spotters will not be needed this afternoon or tonight.

27/88

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
342 PM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

COZ071-074-052215-
Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Ft CO-
Southern San Luis Valley CO-
342 PM MDT Wed Aug 5 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN COSTILLA COUNTY
THROUGH 415 PM MDT...

At 342 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
San Acacio, or 22 miles southeast of San Luis Valley Airport, moving
east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
San Luis, San Acacio, San Pablo, and Chama.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3713 10562 3726 10566 3736 10542 3729 10534
      3715 10533
TIME...MOT...LOC 2142Z 252DEG 19KT 3722 10556

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

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