Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
Issued by NWS Pueblo, CO
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265 FXUS65 KPUB 220450 AFDPUB Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1050 PM MDT Tue May 21 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered showers and thunderstorms into early this evening, mainly north of Highway 50. - Isolated to scattered showers expected along the mountains each day through most of the long term period, though mostly along the central mountains. && .UPDATE... Issued at 630 PM MDT Tue May 21 2024 We have issued a Frost Advisory for early Thursday morning across Northern El Paso County, with clearing skies overnight allowing for lows to dip into the lower 30s. .SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 244 PM MDT Tue May 21 2024 Upper wave crossing the state today producing scattered showers/isolated thunderstorms mainly along/north of Highway 50 at mid-afternoon, with the strongest activity in the Pikes Peak/Palmer Divide area, where upward motion is slightly better. While 0-6km shear is around 50 kts, limiting factor for stronger convection today continues to be rather modest instability, as surface CAPE is running in the 300-600 J/KG range across most of the area. As a result, expect mainly small hail and briefly gusty winds of 40-50 mph with the strongest storms late this after/early evening, and most activity will wind down quickly after sunset. Some snow still possible this evening back over the mountains above 10000 feet, as Continental Divide passes are already seeing snow showers this afternoon. As convection slides east this evening, cold front drops south through the plains, bringing a brief period of gusty winds behind the boundary, before subsiding after midnight. On Wednesday, wave departs with weak upper ridging across Colorado by afternoon. Given subsidence and drier air mass, convective chances look low, and cut back pops to just some isolated thunderstorms over the southeast mountains in the afternoon. Max temps Wed will drift upward a degf or two at many locations with a little more sun and slight upward trend in mid-level temps. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... Issued at 244 PM MDT Tue May 21 2024 Wednesday Night - Monday: A relatively persistent pattern will be in place over south central and southeastern Colorado for much of the long term period. Overall, a large trough will be in place, with shortwaves swinging around within the broader flow. This pattern will keep broad ascent in place, along with modest orographic forcing given persistent southwesterly flow. Forcing will uptick as the shortwaves pass near and influence the region some, but most of the shortwaves are anticipated to remain to the north. With that all said, given the forcing in place, isolated to scattered showers are expected along the mountains each day, though particularly along the central mountains, where forcing will be maximized. Along with that, given the flow pattern in place, showers are expected to occasionally push off of the higher terrain and across the valleys and immediate eastern plains areas. Near the end of the long term period, there are signals of a pattern change, as a ridge starts to build and push over the region. Ensemble model guidance are in decent agreement about this pattern change early next week. With the ridging in place, drier conditions are anticipated to quickly develop at the start of next week. Looking at temperatures, a relatively warm stretch of days is expected. Despite the modest unsettled pattern, much of the region will remain near to slightly above seasonal temperatures for late May. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1049 PM MDT Tue May 21 2024 VFR conditions expected at COS, PUB and ALS over the next 24 hours. Skies clear with generally light diurnal wind regimes developing overnight. Breezy south to southeast winds at COS and PUB tomorrow afternoon, with gusty southwest winds at ALS once again tomorrow afternoon. Showers and storms to be more isolated tomorrow and look to remain confined to the higher terrain. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Frost Advisory from 3 AM to 8 AM MDT Wednesday for COZ084. && $$ UPDATE...MW SHORT TERM...PETERSEN LONG TERM...SIMCOE AVIATION...MW