A strong upper level system moved across the region and supported high winds over much of the plains during this period. Strongest gusts up to 70 mph were observed across the Pikes Peak region, with winds gusting to 60 to 65 mph elsewhere across the plains.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.
A strong upper level system moved across the region and supported high winds over much of the plains during this period. Strongest gusts up to 70 mph were observed across the Pikes Peak region, with winds gusting to 60 to 65 mph elsewhere 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 Mar 23, 6:25 AM MST, 3 hours 50 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 725 AM MDT Wed Mar 23 2022 .UPDATE... Issued at 722 AM MDT Wed Mar 23 2022 Latest guidance increased winds across most of the area, especially over the San Luis Valley. Updated the grids and expanded the High Wind Warning to encompass the entire SLV, with gusts up to about 50 knots expected this afternoon. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 356 AM MDT Wed Mar 23 2022 Key Messages: 1)Strong winds today, with gusts up to around 70 mph possible Additional energy originating from the upper-level low near our area will pass over today, resulting in increased winds aloft. With daytime mixing and downward forcing on the back side leading to strong surface winds across the plains this afternoon. Latest guidance has been coming in stronger tonight, and have increased potential gusts accordingly. Main areas of concern will be parts of our plains influenced by orographic features and enhanced downsloping off of the Palmer Divide. Sustained winds of 30 mph or more are expected across the plains starting around midday, and regular gusts up to 50-55 mph. The strongest gusts, namely over parts of El Paso, Pueblo, and Crowley Counties could reach upwards of 70 mph. As such, have upgraded previous highlight to a High Wind Warning for the aforementioned Counties, also adding Otero, Bent, and western Kiowa. As the main energy from upper-level forcing moves away from our area, the strongest gusts should cease, although gusty winds still close to criteria will persist until late afternoon, early-evening. Additionally, today will be warm and dry, with RH values along I-25 hovering near Red Flag criteria, or just below it in places. That, along with the strong winds, would normally be a clear case for fire weather concerns. However, RH is somewhat marginal, and thresholds are really only met in and around parts of Pueblo County for a few short hours this afternoon. This, along with ample recent precipitation causing wet fuels, mitigates the concern, and as such no fire weather highlights have been hoisted at this time. Otherwise, warming temps and clearing skies will dominate the day, with highs expected to climb into the mid-50s over the plains, and high-40s elsewhere. Winds will wane quickly after sunset, with lows in the mid-20s over the plains and teens over the valleys. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday) Issued at 356 AM MDT Wed Mar 23 2022 Key Messages: 1) Spotty near critical fire weather conditions are possible Thursday across parts of the plains. 3) Above normal temperatures return to southern Colorado Thursday and continue into the weekend and early next week, with 80 degree weather appearing likely across the plains Sunday and Monday. By Thursday, the large upper level low will continue to the east with the air mass continuing to warm. No real big changes to the forecast high on Thursday, with upper 50s to low 60s expected across the mountain valleys and 60s to around 70 over the plains. Do note some weak moist advection on this day, though daytime mixing should help to offset this trend, especially where snow is limited. This will allow RH values to fall just under 15 percent in spots across the plains Thursday afternoon, while some gustier winds develop. Similar to today, the current snow on the ground will be a limiting factor for any widespread fire weather concerns, with any headlines not warranted at this time. The warming trend continues into the weekend, though a weak front will bring some slight cooling on Friday. Do expect above normal temps during this period though, especially Saturday through Monday. 700mb temps still expected to increase during this period, and would support rather warm temps. 80 degree weather is appearing likely by Sunday, and still expect this warmth to be possible on Saturday. Some guidance is even showing upper 80s over parts of the eastern plains on Sunday and Monday, though did not go this high at this time. While ridge builds overhead and warmth builds with 700mb temps approaching 10C, guidance is hinting at some possible cloudier skies. So, do have low 80s across the plains, but will continue to keep an eye on later trends. A return to some cooler and possibly more active weather is possible by very late in the period, though confidence remains low at this time. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday morning) Issued at 722 AM MDT Wed Mar 23 2022 VFR conditions generally expected across KALS, KCOS, and KPUB over the next 24 hours with decreasing cloud cover. The main weather concern for today will be strong winds across the plains. KALS will experience NW gusts up to around 50 knots through sunset. KCOS and KPUB will see stronger north winds, gusting potentially in excess of 55 to 60 knots, until after 00Z this evening, after which winds will quickly decrease and become more diurnal through the end of the forecast period. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning until 5 PM MDT this afternoon for COZ069>071- 084>086-089-093-095-097. && UPDATE...GARBEROGLIO SHORT TERM...GARBEROGLIO LONG TERM...RODRIGUEZ AVIATION...GARBEROGLIO
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 438 AM MDT Wed Mar 23 2022 COZ058>089-093>099-241045- 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- 438 AM MDT Wed Mar 23 2022 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east central...south central and southeast Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Strong north winds, gusting up to 50 mph, will be possible today across the I-25 corridor and eastern plains. Isolated, stronger wind gusts up to 70 mph will be possible for a few hours this afternoon across northern I-25 and the adjacent plains. Spotty critical fire weather conditions are possible across eastern Fremont, southern El Paso, and Pueblo counties this afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Spotty near critical fire weather conditions are possible across parts of the plains Thursday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters will not be needed today or tonight. GARBEROGLIO/RODRIGUEZ
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
823 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0821 AM HEAVY SNOW 5 SSE ROSITA 38.03N 105.31W
03/23/2022 M0.5 INCH CUSTER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL ACCUMULATION OF SNOW OVER 3 DAY PERIOD
7 INCHES. 21 DEG F, CLEAR SKIES.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1025 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 ENE FALCON 38.95N 104.57W
03/23/2022 M55 MPH EL PASO CO ASOS
ASOS STATION KFLY FALCON AIRPORT.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1030 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 N BLACK FOREST 39.12N 104.69W
03/23/2022 M52 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
MESONET STATION CW3702 BLACK FOREST.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1103 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1049 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 S CHERAW 38.05N 103.52W
03/23/2022 M53 MPH OTERO CO ASOS
ASOS STATION KLHX LA JUNTA AIRPORT.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1104 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1053 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 NE BLENDE 38.28N 104.50W
03/23/2022 M52 MPH PUEBLO CO AWOS
AWOS STATION KPUB PUEBLO AIRPORT.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1105 AM MDT WED MAR 23 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1059 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 WSW FALCON 38.91N 104.70W
03/23/2022 M51 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
MESONET STATION DW0602 COLORADO SPRINGS.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Penrose.
Air Force Academy.
Colorado Springs airport.
Fort Carson.
Pueblo Airport.
Manchester mesonet station.
Cheyenne Mountain air station.
Eight miles south of Springfield.
Ute Canyon.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, March 2022
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: 1017516, 1017517, 1017514, 1017521, 1017518, 1017513, 1017520, 1017519, 1017515.