Mid-May, breezy northwest winds set in aloft, with some mixing down to the surface. This resulted in strong surface winds and blowing dust over the San Luis Valley and some gap flow areas.
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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.
Mid-May, breezy northwest winds set in aloft, with some mixing down to the surface. This resulted in strong surface winds and blowing dust over the San Luis Valley and some gap flow areas.
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 May 18, 4:43 AM MST, 1 hour 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 543 AM MDT Mon May 18 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Extreme fire danger is expected across our southern plains today, with southwest winds gusting 45 to 50 mph and humidity values in the single digits. - 50 mph winds are expected over the southern mountains and the San Luis Valley, which may lead to blowing dust over the valley, blowing snow over the mountains, and travel concerns resulting in both cases. - Showers will be possible north of Highway 50 and west of I-25, with thunderstorms mainly across the Pikes Peak region. - A Freeze Watch remains in place for El Paso and Kiowa counties tonight, and frost may be possible for other portions of the plains as well. - Cooler and wetter weather is expected for all areas tomorrow and Wednesday. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Issued at 105 AM MDT Mon May 18 2026 For the plains..The elusive cold front has sagged back south since sunset, and is now sitting between Springfield and Campo across Baca County. This front and where it ends up again this afternoon will be the driving factor in today's forecast across the plains once again. North of the front and west of I-25, stratus has begun to develop up against the terrain as of midnight. USAFA is reporting ceilings down to 2,000ft, and the Colorado Springs airfield is starting to see lower scattered decks as well. Models continue to suggest that rain will be possible as upslope continues across the mountains/plains interface throughout this morning. Thunderstorms will be possible across the Pikes Peak region again this afternoon, though severe development is not expected. That said, lots of shear will present over the region today, so if any areas clear out and warm up, chances for a stronger storm or two may be possible, especially over the higher terrain of the Pikes Peak region. The main forecast concern on our plains today though will be our high end Red Flag Warning across our southern plains. Las Animas and Baca counties are both included in this warning, and southern portions of Bent and Prowers counties may see periods of critical conditions as well depending on how far north/east the front gets shoved this afternoon. Over these areas, single digit relative humidity values and southwest wind gusts of 45 to 50 mph are expected. The strongest winds and lowest humidities will be over Baca County this afternoon, which will lead to the possibility for extreme fire behavior for any new or existing fires today. Please use extra caution and take care not to start a wildfire today. One last note for the plains, gusty winds over our southeast plains may also lead to blowing dust and hazardous travel conditions. Once the sun sets, the front *finally* pushes itself completely southwards, allowing all areas to cool and moisten through the overnight hours. This will put an end to fire weather concerns for a few days. Overnight lows will be chilly in our post frontal airmass though, and areas north of Highway 50 may see hard freeze conditions by Tuesday morning. El Paso and Kiowa counties are both under Freeze Watches for tonight through early Tuesday morning, and temperatures down into the upper 20s will be possible. Another tier of counties or two may also see the potential for frost depending on clearing through the overnight hours. For the high country and the San Luis Valley..Models bring the trough axis through our southern mountains between 9 AM and Noon or so, which will be the windiest timeframe for the San Juans, the San Luis Valley, and the Sangres. The NBM continues to be the only outlier suggesting high wind criteria, so have continued to trend towards other model consensus, which keeps winds below warning levels across the area. The San Luis Valley is likely to see gusts upwards of 50 mph or so though, especially if any showers survive off the mountains and help to enhance gusts coming down the terrain. Areas of blowing dust are likely across the Valley today, especially with any localized stronger winds from decaying showers. Over the mountains, a quick 2 to 4 inches of wind driven snow will be possible for the San Juans and the central mountains. Though totals will be low, degraded visibility and hazardous travel conditions may be possible from blowing snow, especially over mountain passes. Snow comes to an end for both range by around midnight or so at the latest. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Issued at 105 AM MDT Mon May 18 2026 Tuesday and Wednesday.. The front is finally through us and will stay through us for Tuesday and Wednesday. We stay in southwest flow aloft as messy troughing sits out west. This pattern will keep temperatures cooler than normal, and it will keep precip chances over us as well. Models bring shortwave energy through the trough and over us on Tuesday, which will help to develop weak showers and thunderstorms over the high country on Tuesday afternoon, and better chances for widespread rain on the plains overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday. Daytime highs look to stay in the 60s both days, with decent chances for precipitation both days. Thursday Onwards.. Models are not in great agreement about the pattern late week onwards, but the general consensus suggests some type of northwest flow with a trough passing to our north. This looks to bring temperatures back into the near normal range for Thursday and Friday, with warmer than normal temperatures by the weekend. Chances for showers and thunderstorms will remain in the forecast nearly every afternoon, especially across the high country. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 543 AM MDT Mon May 18 2026 KALS: Gusty southwest winds will be in place throughout the day, gusting 25-30 knots this morning and closer to 45 knots by 16Z or so. With the strongest gusts, there will be a period late this morning through mid afternoon with the potential for periods of blowing dust and reduced visibility. After 22Z, there is also a low- end chance that rain showers will move off the terrain and pass bu the terminal, but chances are low enough to leave as PROB30 for now. KCOS: Winds will turn SE later this morning, gusting to 25 knots. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to move in from the north- northwest after 20Z or so, bringing precipitation and gusty outflow to the terminal. Outflow from storms will reach 35 knots or so. Precip departs the immediate area prior to 00Z, though gusty winds and MVFR-IFR cigs will remain the rest of the period. Winds will turn northerly later this afternoon as a frontal surge moves in. KPUB: MVFR to IFR conditions expected through the period. Winds turn ESE later this morning, with a lower-end chance for thunderstorms to pass by the terminal during the afternoon. Winds will generally gust to 25 knots or so, with any outflow from thunderstorms gusting to about 35 knots. Winds will turn north later in the day as a frontal surge moves in. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Freeze Watch from late tonight through Tuesday morning for COZ084-085-095-096. Red Flag Warning from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ230-233-237. && SHORT TERM...EHR LONG TERM...EHR AVIATION...GARBEROGLIO
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 112 AM MDT Mon May 18 2026 COZ058>089-093>099-190715- 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- 112 AM MDT Mon May 18 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east central...south central and southeast Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Extreme fire danger is expected across Las Animas and Baca counties today, where southwest winds gusting 45 to 50 mph are expected, along with single digit relative humidity values. These conditions may lead to extreme fire behavior for any new or existing or existing fires. Please use extra caution and take care not to start a wildfire today. 50 mph winds are also expected over the southern mountains and the San Luis Valley, which may result in blowing snow over the mountains, and blowing dust over the valley. In either case, hazardous travel conditions may be possible. Please check road conditions and use caution on areas roadways in low visibility situations today! Showers and weak thunderstorms will be possible for areas mainly along and north of Highway 50 this afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Saturday Chances for showers and weak thunderstorms persist daily for Tuesday through Saturday, especially over and near the higher terrain. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will be possible over portions of the region. EHR/EHR
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
There was a 69 mph wind gust measured.
There was a 60 mph wind gust measured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, May 2026
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: 1338808, 1338807.