Southern Colorado is heading into the part of the year when cold fronts begin to matter a little more. The next several days bring a noticeable up-and-down temperature pattern, with a couple of fronts moving through eastern Colorado and a gradual return of monsoon moisture. Friday looks warm and fairly quiet, but the weekend and early next week will bring some important changes to watch.
Friday will be the warm day in this stretch. Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Woodland Park and much of the region should see plenty of warmth, with afternoon clouds around at times but little expectation for thunderstorms. Drier northwest flow is in place Thursday and Friday, so the better message is warm temperatures, limited rain chances and conditions that can dry out quickly during the afternoon. Higher terrain and interior valleys may also see elevated fire-weather conditions in the dry air.
The first front backs into eastern Colorado to start the weekend. It is not a major push of cold air, but it should knock temperatures down roughly 10 degrees from Friday into Saturday, especially along and east of I-25. Saturday looks cooler, though still generally on the dry side. There could be an isolated mountain storm, but widespread rain is not expected with that first front.
By Sunday, temperatures rebound. Woodland Park could be back near 80 degrees, and the lower elevations will warm after Saturday’s brief cooldown. More moisture begins working back toward Colorado as the upper-level pattern shifts. That means mountain thunderstorm chances look more favorable Sunday than Saturday, particularly over the higher terrain from the Pikes Peak region south toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
The more meaningful change arrives Monday. A stronger front is expected to move into eastern Colorado late in the day, bringing another cooldown and setting up a much larger temperature swing from Sunday to Tuesday. The exact timing of that front will make a big difference in where storms develop and how active they become. If the front arrives at the right time while monsoon moisture is in place, thunderstorms could develop over the plains Monday afternoon or evening.
Tuesday is shaping up as the coolest day of the extended forecast and a day to watch closely. Colorado Springs could be close to 20 degrees cooler than Sunday, while Pueblo will also see a substantial drop behind the stronger front. Cooler air may make the atmosphere too stable for storms to travel far east from the mountains and foothills. At the same time, the combination of moisture, upslope flow and the front pressing against the terrain could support heavier rain near the eastern slopes of the Rockies.
That potential is especially worth watching around the foothills, the Rampart Range, Pikes Peak region and areas near the eastern slopes farther south. It does not mean everyone will see heavy rain, and details will depend on the timing and strength of the front. Still, Tuesday has the ingredients for active weather close to the mountains, with a cooler and more stable setup farther out across the plains.
