On the Otero County plains, summer storms drive fast and hit hard

If you are new to the eastern plains, the sky out here works differently than in the mountains. Otero County’s wide, flat country lets summer thunderstorms build fast and travel far, and there is not much to slow them down or block your view of them coming.

In the warm months these storms can bring large hail, strong straight-line wind, heavy rain that floods low spots and dips in county roads, and at times tornadoes. On a long, open highway like US-50, weather you can see miles away can still be on top of you in minutes. Blowing dust and sudden downpours can drop visibility to almost nothing.

The practical habit is simple. Before a drive across the plains on a stormy-looking afternoon, check the forecast and any watches or warnings from the National Weather Service office in Pueblo, which covers this corner of the state. If a warning is out, waiting it out beats driving into it. Large hail can break a windshield, and high water on a rural road is hard to judge at speed.

Hail and wind are also worth a thought for where you park and how you insure a vehicle here, though those are separate questions.

Check the National Weather Service Pueblo office for current watches and warnings, and the state road site for conditions.