A cold front moved south through Colorado during the early morning hours on this day, with northerly winds strengthening through the day. These winds really strengthened by mid morning with winds gusting to 45 to 55 mph, and with isolated gusts up to 60 mph noted across the plains.
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The episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.
A cold front moved south through Colorado during the early morning hours on this day, with northerly winds strengthening through the day. These winds really strengthened by mid morning with winds gusting to 45 to 55 mph, and with isolated gusts up to 60 mph noted across the plains.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Pueblo, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 9, 3:15 AM MST, 6 hours 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 415 AM MDT Fri Apr 9 2021 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 415 AM MDT Fri Apr 9 2021 Main Forecast Concerns/Challenges for Short Term: 1) Small window for light snow showers across the central mountains and Pikes Peak region this morning through around midday. 2) Strong northerly winds from around mid morning through early afternoon across the eastern plains. Winds gusting to 45 to 55 mph, with isolated/brief gusts up to 60 mph. Blowing dust is also a concern. 3) Critical fire weather conditions across the San Luis Valley, Fremont and Pueblo Counties. Near critical to spotty critical fire weather conditions across the remaining plains. Main Forecast Concerns/Challenges for Long Term 1)Near critical fire weather conditions over the San Luis Valley, the upper Arkansas River Valley, the Wet Mountain Valley, and the southern I-25 corridor on Saturday afternoon. Confidence: High 2)Critical fire weather condition expected over the lower elevations on Sunday, but a cold front will reach southern Colorado by the late afternoon, which may end critical fire weather conditions early. Confidence: High for critical fire weather conditions with the wildcard being the front passage timing. 3)Omega block develops over the western U.S. setting up a closed low that may bring ample moisture towards southern Colorado. Snow is possible over the mountains, northern El Paso County, and the Raton Mesa. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 415 AM MDT Fri Apr 9 2021 Relatively quiet in the near term, as main upper level trough can be seen still to the north of the area this morning. However, associated surface cold front is noted on latest satellite imagery quickly diving south through eastern Colorado. Concerns for any impactful weather with this front are low, with really only a wind shift to some strengthening northerly winds and a cooling trend expected in the near term. Have seen increasing cloud cover across the central mountains early this morning as flow and moisture increase out ahead of this trough. This should allow for a period of light snow through around mid morning, but with only light snow accums. expected at this time. Previous thoughts for at least some isolated showery development across the Pike Peak region, or Palmer Divide, remain this morning. Overall moisture across our area is still expected to be limited, but do think there will be a small window that enough moisture will be present to support this development. This is especially as decent ascent owing to this strong trough and favorable upslope setup will be in place. Time window for highest potential will be from around mid to late morning through early afternoon. Ptype will start off as snow but should trend towards rain, and with any development isolated and light. Scattered clouds over the plains early this morning should depart to the east here in the near term, with either sunny or partly cloudy skies expected over most locations today. Deep mixing is expected today and is concerning for a couple of reasons, one of which is for the likelihood for strong northerly winds, possibly damaging, over the eastern plains. Post frontal winds really ramp up later this morning and peak around midday with guidance showing some rather high strong sustained winds, potentially in the mid to upper 30 kt range. These higher sustained winds are a little concerning, for the possibility for damaging winds over the eastern plains. However, looking at both plan views and forecast soundings from varying pieces of guidance, don't really see flow that would support these high winds. This adds some lower confidence to the wind forecast today and with this lower confidence, did not go quite as high with the winds and gusts for today. Have kept both just below High Wind Warning criteria and think winds should primarily stay in the 45 to 55 mph range, but with isolated/brief gusts to 60 mph still possible. With short term guidance still indicating the potential for rather high winds as I write, am a little concerned for more widespread and higher winds/gusts and the possible need for a High Wind Warning. Will continue to closely monitor this morning. Blowing dust will also need to be closely monitored today over the eastern plains, and have included mention in the forecast. Even if High Wind Warning winds don't materialize, do think blowing dust could still be a concern today. Another day of critical fire weather conditions is expected today, with no real big changes to the current fire weather headlines in place. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect later today for the San Luis Valley, Fremont, and Pueblo counties. Feel fairly confident for these locations to note Red Flag conditions and do have some concerns for near critical to spotty critical fire weather conditions elsewhere across the plains, though confidence is lower at this time. Did think about expanding the Red Flag Warning, though confidence with temp and dewpoint trends is what is providing the lower confidence. The cooling trend post frontal today will provide cooler highs today, and this will of course be a big factor with RH values today. However, dewpoint trends will be the real challenge as they will likely fluctuate in this post frontal environment. This trend can already be noted upstream, with higher dewpoint air diving south across the region. This will reach our area later this morning, but with daytime mixing, should lower through the day. So, do increase dewpoints this morning but then lower them into the afternoon. With this forecast, once again, conditions are close but not quite there for a Red Flag Warning. Will need to keep a close eye on trends later this morning/today, for the possibility of lower dewpoints and RH values, but also the winds. Even if the RH values don't quite reach or fall below 15%, the stronger northerly winds will be a concern today. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday) Issued at 415 AM MDT Fri Apr 9 2021 Saturday: A brief lull in definite critical fire weather conditions are expected on Saturday, as northwesterly flow is expected to be over southern Colorado and two jet streaks will be to the north and the south of Colorado. The mid-level winds are expected to be from the west-northwest which should creates some downslope winds over the San Luis Valley, the upper Arkansas River Valley (Chaffee and Fremont Counties), the Wet Mountain Valley, and the southern I-25 corridor, but the orientation isn't favorable for widespread stronger downslope winds. Relative humidity values are expected to be well below 15 percent. So Saturday will have near critical fire weather conditions, with the limitation being the wind speeds. Dry conditions are expected on Saturday. Sunday: A closed low that is expected to be over Alberta on Monday will push a jet streak towards Colorado will create gusty winds over the lower elevations as well as critical fire weather conditions over the mountain valleys and the plains. A front is expected to reach the region by the early evening on Sunday, so if the front accelerates more quickly than anticipated, the cooler and higher relatively humid air will cut off the critical fire weather conditions early - similar to the event that the region saw on Tuesday. As the front passes over the plains, strong north to northeast winds are expected, with speeds up to 45-50 mph possible. Isolated to scattered rain and snow showers are possible, with the best chances over the eastern mountains. Monday through Thursday: Monday looks to be a cooler, post front, day with wind from the north-northeast. By late Monday afternoon to early evening, the post frontal winds shift towards the east-southeast following a tight pressure gradient over the plains, which may spark snow showers over the eastern mountains. Forecast model soundings show dry low levels from late Monday through the early morning on Tuesday across the I- 25 corridor, but El Paso County may moisten enough for a quick snow shower on Tuesday morning. Things get a little strange after that. In the synoptic pattern a closed low shifts from the Alberta province to the Great Basin, a stout high pressure center develops over the eastern Pacific, and another closed low develops over the central Pacific, which appears to create an omega blocking pattern over the Pacific and the western U.S. from Tuesday evening through the end of the work week. The closed low over the western U.S. is expected to be in a good location to funnel Pacific based moisture towards southern Colorado and a persistent pressure gradient keeps surface winds from the east- southeast over the plains. As the closed low spins, small shortwaves will propagate over southern Colorado. The SE winds and the shortwaves are expected to create rain and snow showers pretty regularly throughout the rest of the long term forecast. Snow is a concern during the overnight from Tuesday through Thursday over the mountains, the Palmer Divide, and the Raton Mesa, but rain is expected during the day. Outside of the mountains, the Palmer Divide, and the Raton Mesa, rain is expected. Ensemble forecasts are consistent with the omega block developing, but the EPS keeps the omega block throughout the extended term and the GEFS has the blocking pattern breaking down by late next week. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Saturday morning) Issued at 415 AM MDT Fri Apr 9 2021 Expect VFR and dry weather across the TAF sites this period, with any cloud cover that moves overhead today expected to be mid to high clouds. Some isolated showery development is possible to the north of COS, but anticipate any development to stay just to the north at this time. Even if a stray shower were to move across COS, don't anticipate any impacts. Stronger northerly winds are expected later today and with trends indicating higher winds and gusts, have increased both with this morning's forecast. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from noon today to 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ222-224-228. && SYNOPSIS...RODRIGUEZ/SKELLY SHORT TERM...RODRIGUEZ LONG TERM...SKELLY AVIATION...RODRIGUEZ
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 555 AM MDT Fri Apr 9 2021 COZ058>089-093>099-101200- 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- 555 AM MDT Fri Apr 9 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east central...south central and southeast Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Critical fire weather conditions are expected today across the San Luis Valley, Pueblo and Fremont counties. Along and east of I-25, near critical to spotty critical fire weather conditions are expected. Strong northerly winds gusting to 45 to 55 mph are expected today across the eastern plains. A few isolated gusts up to 60 mph are possible. Additionally, areas of blowing dust may cause reduced visibility at times. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Critical fire weather conditions are possible both Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday being the higher risk fire weather day. Light snow is possible late Sunday night into Sunday morning over the eastern mountains as a cold front moves over the plains. An active pattern sets up beginning on Tuesday with snow chances over the mountains through the end of the work week and over northern El Paso County and the Raton Mesa during the overnight through the end of the work week. Otherwise, rain is expected during the day over northern El Paso County and the Raton Mesa, as well as everywhere else. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters will not be needed today or tonight. RODRIGUEZ/SKELLY
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Lamar Municipal Airport.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, April 2021
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 953269.