852 FXUS65 KPUB 180930 AFDPUBArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 330 AM MDT Thu Sep 18 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Cooler and drier today, with warmer and drier conditions returning to the area on Friday.
- Warmer over the weekend into Monday with only some very isolated afternoon thunderstorms over the mountains
- A cold front will bring slightly cooler air and a small uptick in shower and thunderstorm chances starting Tuesday.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/... Issued at 301 AM MDT Thu Sep 18 2025
Today and Tonight...
Generally cool and dry across the area today, as an upper-level ridge builds in from the west. High temperatures will generally be in the high-60s to mid-70s across the forecast area. Cloud cover will slowly decrease across the area as well today, due to the slowly dwindling low-level moisture left over from yesterday. Models have trended down as far as precipitation chances are concerned. As of now, guidance only shows the chance for a few isolated showers over the southeast mountains, Palmer Divide, and Raton Mesa this afternoon. If any showers do manage to form, they will be generally weak and short-lived.
Some clouds will return to the area tonight, mainly over the higher terrain. Overnight low temperatures will be in the 40s to low-50s, while the high valleys sink into the 30s once again.
Friday...
The upper low will fully depart on Friday, leaving southeast Colorado in drier and generally westerly flow aloft. Temperatures will noticeably warmer than today, with 70s over the valleys and 80s across the plains. Again, generally dry across the area, though some isolated POPs will begin sneaking into our western mountains later in the day as some Pacific moisture begins to return to the region. &&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 301 AM MDT Thu Sep 18 2025
Flat upper ridge across Colorado Fri/Sat will allow a modest influx of mainly mid/high level moisture into the state, leading to an upturn in convection both days. Low levels look to remain dry, with surface dewpoints in the 30s, and suspect most activity stay high-based and weak, generating mostly wind and lightning, but only a few sprinkles or brief light rain. Temps both days will end up just slightly above average levels, and a few spots on the plains could get close to 90f Sunday afternoon.
Flow aloft become nwly Mon as strong upper wave drops into the nrn plains by afternoon. Expect a continuation of warm temps and just isolated convection, along with a increase in wind speeds as lee surface trough deepens. Models seem to have converged on a late Mon/Mon night cold frontal passage, with perhaps a brief window for showers/thunderstorms along and behind the front into Tues morning. Mostly dry and a little cooler Tue into mid-week, with upper low wallowing around in the lower Mississippi Valley, keeping weak nwly flow in place across Colorado.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 301 AM MDT Thu Sep 18 2025
VFR conditions are expected at KALS, KCOS, and KPUB through 24 hours. Winds will generally be light and diurnally driven.
&&
.PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
&&
$$
SHORT TERM...GARBEROGLIO LONG TERM...PETERSEN AVIATION...GARBEROGLIO
NWS PUB Office Area Forecast Discussion