You wake up, it's pitch black, and the first thing you do is squint at your phone. We've all been there. Living in Pueblo, you know the drill: is it a "warm up the car for twenty minutes" kind of morning, or a "stay in your pajamas and make pancakes" kind of day? If you're looking for school closures and delays today Pueblo CO, you’re likely staring at some pretty intense wind gusts outside your window right now.
Honestly, the weather in Southern Colorado is just weird sometimes. One day it’s 60 degrees and you’re thinking about a hike at Lake Pueblo, and the next, the wind is trying to peel the shingles off your roof.
The Current Situation in Pueblo Districts
As of Friday morning, January 16, 2026, things are a bit of a mixed bag. The big news isn't actually snow—it’s the wind. The National Weather Service in Pueblo issued a High Wind Warning and a Red Flag Warning for today. We are talking about northwest winds between 30 to 40 mph, with some gusts screaming up to 65 mph. That is enough to knock over a high-profile vehicle on I-25 or blow a trampoline into the next county.
Pueblo School District 60 (City)
District 60 is currently Open on a regular schedule. I know, not what the kids wanted to hear. But keep an eye on your phone. D60 usually makes the call by 6:00 a.m. at the latest. If they decide to pivot to a 2-hour delay or a full closure, they’ll blast it out via text, email, and their social media pages.
If they do switch to a "remote learning" day, remember that D60 doesn't usually do live Zoom classes for snow days anymore. They basically post assignments online and give students a two-hour buffer to get started. It's more of an independent study vibe.
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Pueblo County School District 70 (Rural)
District 70 is also reporting Open status for most schools, including Pueblo West and Mesa. However, D70 is huge. If you live out in the mountain zones or further east toward Vineland, the conditions can be totally different than they are at the Colorado State Fairgrounds.
Since District 70 covers so much ground, they sometimes have "rolling" delays where specific zones are affected while others aren't. As of right now, buses are running. But seriously, with 65 mph gusts, those bus drivers are going to have their hands full.
Why Wind Matters as Much as Snow
Most people think school closures only happen when there’s a foot of powder on the ground. Not true in Pueblo. High winds are a major safety hazard for several reasons:
- School Bus Safety: A yellow bus is basically a giant sail. High winds make them incredibly hard to handle, especially for the routes out in the county.
- Power Outages: With winds this high, trees hit lines. If a school loses power or heat, they can't have kids in the building. It’s a literal safety code violation.
- Visibility: Dust storms are real here. Blowing dirt can drop visibility to near zero in seconds, making the morning commute a nightmare.
How the Decision Actually Happens
It’s not just one person looking out their window and guessing. The superintendents—currently Charlotte Macaluso for D60 and the leadership over at D70—coordinate with local meteorologists and the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
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They have "weather spotters" who are out on the roads at 3:30 or 4:00 in the morning. They’re checking if the side streets are iced over or if the wind is making it impossible to see the lines on the road. They try to make the call before the first buses start their engines around 5:30 a.m.
If you decide the wind is too much or your specific street is a mess, you can always keep your kid home. Both districts usually count these as excused absences as long as you call it in. Safety over a math quiz, always.
Real-Time Ways to Stay Updated
Don't just keep refreshing a Google search. The fastest way to get the word is usually the "old school" ways or direct alerts:
- The Apps: Make sure you're signed up for the D60 or D70 Infinite Campus alerts.
- Local Radio: 590 AM (KIDN) or the FM stations like 98.9 often have the crawl going.
- Sheriff’s Office: The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page is surprisingly fast at posting road closures or major emergency updates.
- Weather Radios: If the power goes out, a battery-powered NOAA weather radio is a lifesaver.
What to Do if a Delay is Announced Mid-Morning
This is the worst-case scenario for working parents. Sometimes the weather turns south after school starts. If a "late start" or early dismissal happens, D60 and D70 have specific protocols.
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On a 2-hour delay, everything just shifts. If your kid usually catches the bus at 7:15, they’ll be there at 9:15. Breakfast is usually skipped at school on delay days, so make sure they eat at home.
If they close mid-day, they will not let kids leave until they are sure a parent or guardian is there or the bus route is cleared. It’s chaos, but it’s organized chaos.
Actionable Steps for Pueblo Parents
Check your emergency contact info in the school portal right now. If you changed your cell number over the summer and forgot to update the district, you won't get the 5:45 a.m. "no school" text.
Download the Pueblo County Emergency Alert app (Smart911). It's not just for schools; it’ll tell you if there’s a fire or a major road closure nearby, which is especially important during these Red Flag Warning days when one spark can start a massive grass fire.
Keep a "wind day" kit in the car. If you're stuck in traffic because a semi-truck tipped over on I-25 near 13th Street, you’ll be glad you have extra water, blankets, and a portable charger.
Lastly, bookmark the official district sites. Third-party sites can sometimes be slow to update, but the Pueblo D60 and D70 official websites are the "source of truth." Stay safe out there; that wind is no joke today.