Hazard Report Provided By forecast.weather.gov

COZ004-009-010-012-013-018-019-031-034-060-068-200045-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED AVALANCHE WARNING
COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
532 PM MST TUE FEB 17 2026

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE
COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER.

AVALANCHE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY

*WHAT Heavy snow and strong winds will result in HIGH (4 of 5)
avalanche danger.

*WHEREthe Flat Tops, Park Range, Grand Mesa, Elkhead Mountains,
Gore Range, Sawatch, West Elk, Elk Mountains, and San Juan Mountains.

*WHEN Expect very dangerous avalanche conditions to begin on Tuesday
 evening and last through Thursday.

*IMPACTS Large and dangerous avalanches will be easy to trigger.
Large avalanches will run naturally.

*PRECAUTION/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS Travel in backcountry avalanche
terrain is not recommended from Tuesday evening through Friday.
Avoid travel on and under slopes with a slope angle steeper than
about 30 degrees. You can find more detailed information at
colorado.gov/avalanche

$$

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1040 AM MST Wed Feb 18 2026

COZ060-068-190145-
/O.CON.KPUB.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260219T0600Z/
Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Feet-Eastern San Juan
Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Including Cumbres Pass, Bonanza, and Wolf Creek Pass
1040 AM MST Wed Feb 18 2026

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations between 3 and 10
  inches with up to 12 inches across the higher peaks of the Eastern
  San Juan Mountains. Winds gusting as high as 70 mph causing poor
  visibility in blowing and drifting snow.

* WHERE...Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Feet and Eastern San
  Juan Mountains Above 10000 Feet.

* WHEN...Until 11 PM MST this evening.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread
  blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Very strong
  winds could cause power outages and tree damage.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for
the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

&&

$$

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
346 AM MST Wed Feb 18 2026

COZ058>089-093>099-191100-
Western Mosquito Range/East Lake County Above 11000 Feet-
Leadville Vicinity/Lake County Below 11000 Feet-
Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Western Chaffee County Between 9000 and 11000 Feet-
Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Feet-
Western Mosquito Range/East Chaffee County Above 9000 Feet-
Saguache County West of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet-
Saguache County East of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet-
La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Upper Rio Grande Valley/Eastern San Juan Mountains Below
10000 Feet-Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Del Norte Vicinity/Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Alamosa  Vicinity/Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Southern San Luis Valley-
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 And 11000 Feet-
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Feet-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Northwestern Fremont County Above 8500 Feet-
Western/Central Fremont County Below 8500 Feet-
Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Wet Mountains between 6300 and 10000 Feet-
Wet Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Teller County/Rampart Range Above 7500 Feet/Pikes Peak Between
7500 And 11000 Feet-Pikes Peak Above 11000 Feet-
Canon City Vicinity/Eastern Fremont County-
Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below
7500 Feet-
Colorado Springs Vicinity/Southern El Paso County/Rampart Range
Below 7400 Feet-Pueblo Vicinity/Pueblo County Below 6300 Feet-
Walsenburg Vicinity/Upper Huerfano River Basin Below 7500 Feet-
Trinidad Vicinity/Western Las Animas County Below 7500 Feet-
Crowley County-La Junta Vicinity/Otero County-
Eastern Las Animas County-Western Kiowa County-
Eastern Kiowa County-Las Animas Vicinity/Bent County-
Lamar Vicinity/Prowers County-Springfield Vicinity/Baca County-
346 AM MST Wed Feb 18 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east
central...south central and southeast Colorado.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Westerly winds of 25 to 45 mph will continue across south central and
southeast Colorado today, with damaging wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph
possible over and near the Southern mountains. These winds may cause
difficult travel for light and high profile vehicles. In addition to the
strong winds producing Critical Fire Weather conditions across most of
southeast Colorado this afternoon, blowing dust will also be possible,
which could cause sudden drops in visibility and dangerous travel conditions.

Moderate, to at times heavy, wind driven snow continues across the higher
terrain of Continental Divide through the day, keeping hazardous travel
conditions in place across the higher terrain. Snow tappers off overnight,
with additional snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches possible across the
Southwest mountains, and additional snowfall of 3 to 9 inches over and
near the Central mountains. Snow showers spreading across the eastern
mountains and into the immediate adjacent plains this afternoon could
bring a quick inch or two of snow, as well as brief hazardous travel
conditions into the early evening.

While the winds tapper off through the evening, there is the potential
for strong downslope winds of 60 to 70 mph developing along the lee
slopes of the eastern mountains into early Thursday morning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Critical fire weather conditions continue across portions of southeast
Colorado Thursday, as gusty winds and low humidity values continue
across the region.

Another round of snow is expected across the higher terrain of the
Continental Divide on Friday, with chances of precipitation spreading
east across the southeast plains Friday night.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will
be likely over portions of the region.

$$

23/23

Hazard Report Provided By forecast.weather.gov