Pueblo Office: Dry, Cool Halloween Then a Warming, Windy Stretch — Adventure Outlook

October 30, 2025

Read this as your field guide from the forecasters at NWS Pueblo translated into practical adventure language. The pattern is straightforward: a cool, mainly dry Halloween night, followed by a stretch of dry weather with at-or-above-seasonal highs through the weekend into midweek. There are a few small nuances — mid- and upper-level clouds, a weak cool front sliding through the plains Friday, and the chance for a flurry or two over the highest peaks — but nothing that should cancel most plans. Expect cool nights (teens to 30s F) and breezy to gusty periods, especially around Friday as winds briefly pick up.

What the meteorologists mean: an upper-level short wave and the back side of a larger trough will pass north and east of our region, keeping most moisture aloft (think thin, higher clouds). When they say "moisture at and above H5," that is shorthand for moisture centered in the mid/upper atmosphere (around the 500 mb level). That type of moisture tends to produce clouds and maybe some virga or a stray flurry over tall peaks — not a valley-soaking storm. A weak, dry cool front will nudge down the plains Friday afternoon, shifting winds northerly and trimming a few degrees off highs, but it won’t bring significant precipitation.

Day-to-day feel and what to plan for:

• Halloween (Fri Oct 31 day → night): Plan for a cool day with extra wind. Afternoon highs will be cooler than Thursday; for many locations expect highs in the 30s–40s (mountain valleys lower, plains slightly warmer). Gusts up to ~35 mph are possible Friday afternoon, especially across exposed ridges and downslope plains. Nighttime temps drop into the 20s–30s. Costumes and candy runs will be fine, but dress in layers and keep an eye on gusts if you’re using lightweight decorations or lanterns.
• Weekend into early next week: A west-to-westerly flow aloft builds into a ridge — that promotes dry air and a warming trend. The forecast discussion and guidance both point to rising temperatures over the weekend, with the plains warming more than the high country. Expect mild afternoons, sunny skies, and cold-to-crisp mornings. Winds relax some Saturday, then remain breezy at times through the period.

Adventure takeaways and zone-specific notes:

• Plains and river corridor: Dry and warming — excellent for road and gravel cycling, trail running on lower elevation trails, and longer day hikes. Afternoon winds Friday will be the main nuisance; plan rides that avoid exposed ridge lines and use late morning to early afternoon windows when winds can be lighter. The Arkansas River corridor will be mostly stable; paddlers should be comfortable but watch for gusts and bring a wind shell — crosswinds will make eddying and ferrying more technical.
• Mountain hikes, scrambles, and ridge routes: Expect cool to cold starts, thin mid/high clouds, and a small chance for flurries on the highest peaks Friday afternoon. Snow accumulation from those flurries will be minimal but surfaces can be icy overnight. Bring microspikes if you plan early-morning summit pushes and know that afternoons will be clearer and milder as the ridge builds.
• Camping & overnight backpacking: Cold nights (20s to teens at higher elevations) mean a warm sleeping bag and insulated pad are non-negotiable. Early-season freezes are possible — protect water containers and fuel canisters from temperatures below freezing.

Hazards to respect: gusty winds Friday (gusts to ~35 mph) that can make ridge travel, light paddling, and bike handling more difficult; cold overnight temps that can dip below freezing even after mild afternoons; slick roots, leaf-covered trails, and residual early-season ice on high trails; low relative humidity in some valleys increasing fire danger for open fires (follow local restrictions).

In short: If you’re chasing dry, crisp adventure this weekend — bake a day hike, a cyclocross route on the plains, or a canyon scramble into your plans. Keep evenings and high-elevation starts conservative because of freezing temps and potential icy patches. The dominant theme is dry and stable with a brief gusty day Friday and a warming trend thereafter. Pack warm layers, a wind shell, and plan your exposed activities outside of the gustiest windows.

This narrative pulls directly from the Area Forecast Discussion: expect mostly clear to partly cloudy skies tonight with lows in the 20s–30s, a cooler and breezy Friday with most moisture stuck aloft (only possible flurries over mountain tops), and then a warming, dry stretch through midweek with modest westerly flow aloft. VFR conditions continue for local aviation sites — an easy proxy for clear weather on most low-elevation outdoor plans.

Takeaway score for general outdoor adventure this week: solid — pack layers and respect the Friday wind window.