726 FXUS65 KPUB 082047 AFDPUBArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO Issued by National Weather Service Denver CO 245 pM MDT Mon Sep 8 2025
Key Messages:
- Slight uptick in storm activity tomorrow with potential for stronger storms across the far southeast plains.
- Temperatures at to slightly above seasonal levels with daily chances of afternoon showers and storms over and near the higher terrain through mid week.
- Cooler late week with greatest coverage of showers and storms Friday (highest chances still over the mountains), then drier again into the weekend.
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Short Term through Tuesday:
Current water vapor imagery has modest westerly flow aloft across the region, as a broad upper trough across the West Coast is ejecting short waves through upper level ridging in place across the Intermountain West and Rockies at this time. Temperatures, as of 1 pm, have warmed into the 80s across the plains, with readings mainly in the 60s and 70s across the higher terrain. Regional radars are indicating a few showers and an isolated storm across the higher terrain, with SPC meso-analysis indicating CAPE of less than 500 j/kg over and near the higher terrain, though does have CAPE up to 2000 j/kg across the far southeast plains at this time. DCAPE of 800-1300 j/kg is also in place.
Rest of Today and Tonight...
Latest model data continues to support fairly isolated high based showers and storms over and the higher terrain through the early evening, with drier air mixing down across the far southeast plains through the late afternoon limiting instability into the evening. Showers and storms that do develop will be mainly high based, with gusty outflow winds up to 50 mph the main threat through the evening, with slowly clearing skies through the overnight hours and near seasonal overnight lows once again. Will need to monitor any convection across western Kansas, though, as a some data supports increasing instability through the overnight hours, and the potential for convection early Tuesday morning across the far southeast plains.
Tuesday...
Flow aloft becomes slightly more southwest through the day, with model data supporting increasing available moisture with PWATS of 100 to 125 percent of normal into the afternoon. This will support better coverage of showers and storms over and near the higher terrain tomorrow afternoon, with better chances of seeing measurable rain. Further east across the plains, lee troughing will develop southerly flow with progged CAPE of up to 2000 j/kg in place in the afternoon, along with bulk shear of 30-40kts. Latest SPC guidance indicates a marginal risk of severe storms across the far southeast plains, with strong winds and large hail being the main risks if storms can develop. Temperatures tomorrow will remain at to slightly above normal with highs in the 80s to lower 90s once again across the plains, and mainly in the 60s and 70s across the higher terrain.
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.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... Issued at 245 pM MDT Mon Sep 8 2025
Wednesday and Thursday pretty much have the same weather impacts each day as a closed low stalls over the US West. Each day there will be weak waves that pass over Colorado. The current thinking is that each of the waves will spark thunderstorms over the mountains and mountain valleys during the mid afternoon and then develop further to the east before dissipating before shortly after sunset. The main hazards from the storms appear to be locally heavy rain and gusty outflow winds. The instability really isnt there each of these days, so the severe hail risk is low. However, the DCAPE values each day are above 1000 J/kg, so perhaps isolated 60 MPH wind gust will develop. High temperatures will be persistent with values in the 80s to 90s over the plains and the 60s to 70s over the mountain valleys.
Friday through Sunday...The closed low finally breaks free of being stalled over the US west and ejects over northwest Colorado. The wave will be the strongest wave of the week, which will spark more widespread showers and thunderstorms over the mountains, mountain valleys, and the adjacent plains. MUCAPE values are less than 1000 J/kg, so the severe risk for hail is low. The thermodynamic profile over the San Luis Valley is a bit concerning because of how saturated the profile is I think there may be a sneaky heavy rain and flash flood risk over the mountains and the mountain valleys as the wave passes overhead on Friday. The profile over the plains have a large T Td spread, so the gusty outflow winds are expected. Saturday and Sunday look drier as the heights rise after the trough passes overhead with perhaps an isolated thunderstorm over the mountains.
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.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1131 AM MDT Mon Sep 8 2025
VFR conditions are expected at COS, PUB and ALS over the next 24 hours as upper level ridging continues to build across the Rockies. There will be high based showers and possible storms across the higher terrain through the afternoon, with a low probability of these high based storms bringing gusty outflow winds to the terminals through the early evening.
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.PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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SHORT TERM...WFO PUB LONG TERM...WFO PUB AVIATION...WFO PUB
NWS PUB Office Area Forecast Discussion