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Winds are howling across the Foothills this morning, with gusts topping 70+ MPH and fire danger at historic levels. For the first time ever, Colorado is under a Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning—an extraordinary designation from the National Weather Service. While Boulder itself could dodge the absolute most extreme winds, conditions remain somewhat uncertain overall, and things will definitely be highly volatile in the Foothills. We breakdown the latest model updates and step through how this dangerous Friday will unfold across the area.
Updated (7AM Friday 12/19): Updated based on latest guidance adjusting timings and intensity of wind/fire impacts, and also made a stronger case for the extreme winds (and fire danger) to potentially stay mostly in the Foothills or very close to there. Lowered wind/fire risk in Boulder proper. This is still a very dangerous situation.
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Boulder, the far western suburbs of Denver, and the Foothills are bracing for yet another powerful mountain wave windstorm Friday, with gusts likely topping 75–100 MPH and, this time, extreme fire danger will be layered on top. Forecast models show the strongest winds during the morning into the afternoon, coinciding with critically dry air and record‑challenging warmth. Power shutoffs, downed trees, and blowing dust are all on the table, but the bigger story is the fire risk—conditions are primed for rapid spread if any ignition occurs. Fortunately it now appears that most of the intense winds will stay largely in the Foothills, but there is some uncertainty how far downhill and east they will reach. Read on for the full breakdown of timing, impacts, and what you need to know to stay safe. We also briefly review the damaging wind event that just occurred on Wednesday.
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Hold onto your hats, Colorado—today’s forecast isn’t just another breezy afternoon. A fast‑developing mountain wave event is lining up to deliver some of the strongest winds we’ve seen in quite some time, with Boulder squarely in the bullseye for this event. We’re talking winds that can go from calm to extreme in minutes, near-critical fire danger with every gust, and even the likelihood of planned and unplanned power outages. Add in mountain snow squalls and a sharp cold front tonight, and it’s definitely a busy day in Colorado weather. Read on for the full breakdown of timing, impacts, and what you need to know to stay safe as the event unfolds.
If you thought Monday’s sunshine was the start of a quiet week, think again. The next 48 hours will bring a dramatic shift in our weather —starting with breezy but pleasant conditions Tuesday, then escalating into a powerful downslope windstorm with heightened fire danger on Wednesday. And just when you think it’s wrapping up, a sharp cold front will crash the party with blustery conditions and even a chance for rain and snow Wednesday evening.
We’ll break down what to expect, where the strongest winds will hit, and how this event stacks up against the day of the Marshall Fire. Plus, we’ll look at the potential for Xcel power shutoffs (spoiler: it’s going to be happen).
The Front Range has been defined by relentless warmth, gusty winds, and bone‑dry conditions of late—and that theme isn’t breaking anytime soon. Even with a strong cold front charging through midweek, the cooldown will be pitiful, dropping us only back to “normal” while lasting only a single day, and it comes at the price of near‑critical fire danger beforehand. With highs hovering near or above 60° almost every day leading into Christmas and precipitation chances close to zero, a brown holiday is essentially guaranteed for the Boulder–Denver area. Read on for our full outlook of our weather heading into the holiday period.
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