Pueblo, Colorado – Southern Colorado is starting the new year on a warmer and quieter note for most communities, even as snow continues in the high country through Friday. While mountain travel remains a concern, lower elevations including Pueblo are seeing dry conditions and temperatures well above early January averages.
According to the National Weather Service in Pueblo, snow will persist along the Continental Divide through Friday, with light to occasionally moderate snowfall affecting higher elevations. Elsewhere across southern Colorado, warm and dry weather dominates, keeping roads clear and travel impacts minimal outside the mountains.
Daytime highs on New Year’s Day are climbing into the upper 40s and low 50s across the Arkansas River Valley, including Pueblo, Cañon City, and La Junta. Colorado Springs and the eastern plains are also seeing mild conditions, with sunshine and light winds helping temperatures recover quickly after cold mornings.
Mountain areas remain the exception. Snow-covered and slick conditions are possible over passes such as Monarch Pass and Wolf Creek Pass, especially during overnight and early morning hours. While snowfall amounts are not extreme, periodic bursts of snow may reduce visibility and create hazardous driving conditions through Friday.
The pattern shifts heading into the weekend as warm and dry weather expands across the entire region. Friday through Monday look quiet for most of southern Colorado, with Sunday expected to be the warmest day of the stretch. Highs may push into the 50s and even low 60s across parts of the plains, well above normal for this time of year.
The National Weather Service notes increasing uncertainty heading into mid next week as another upper-level system develops, but no immediate impacts are expected through the weekend.
For now, residents can expect a calm and pleasant start to 2026, with winter conditions confined mainly to the higher elevations. Travelers heading into the mountains should continue to monitor road conditions through Friday, while those staying on the plains can enjoy a dry and mild New Year’s Day and weekend ahead.
