Pueblo hits 80 degrees Friday before weekend chill

Residents in Pueblo can expect a high of 80 degrees on Friday, Oct. 23, before temperatures fall sharply. A cold front crossing the state will push highs down to the 50s by Saturday.

The shift brings cooler air and more moisture to the area. Morning temperatures in Pueblo were in the 50s, with clouds breaking to allow sunshine. Afternoon warming raised the mercury to the 80-degree mark. Rain chances on the south side of the city start low at 10% to 20% on Friday. These odds rise considerably over the weekend.

The front moves from the west and may trigger storms farther east. Along Interstate 25, sunshine was expected to appear around 10 a.m. as morning clouds cleared. Colorado Springs faces a high of 73 and a low of 47. Saturday highs in that area will also reach only the 50s.

Nearby communities see similar patterns. Canon City has a high of 75 and a low of 49, with a 20% to 30% chance of afternoon showers. Woodland Park is forecast to reach 58 with a low of 39. The Monument and Tri-Lakes area will see a high of 69 and a low of 43. Saturday highs there will also drop into the 50s.

Further south, Walsenburg and Trinidad are expected to hit 73 and 74 degrees, respectively. Both cities have lows of 49. Friday is their warmest day in the next week. Weekend highs in those locations will also fall into the 50s. The eastern plains may see thunderstorms by Friday evening. Afternoon temperatures there will be in the 70s and 80s, with lows in the 50s.

Mountain forecast highs are in the 60s with lows in the 30s. Swellering moisture and flooding remain issues in southwestern Colorado. Water levels in that region may take time to drop. Conditions should calm down next week. Sunshine and partly cloudy skies are expected, with temperatures gradually rising into the 60s. The preliminary outlook for Halloween calls for dry weather and highs in the 50s and 60s.