Winter may be on the calendar, but it certainly hasn’t been in the air this year. As the West stumbles through one of its warmest, most lopsided cold seasons on record, the signs of a deeper shift are becoming impossible to ignore. From record‑breaking heat along the Front Range to a snowpack crisis unfolding across the entire West, this “winter” has rewritten the rules — and the ripple effects are only beginning to surface. We break down what happened this year, why it matters, and what this complete failure of a winter means for the months ahead.
Author: BoulderCAST Team (Page 1 of 46)
This post had major contributions from at least two members of our team. The more meteorologists the better, right?
January 2026 wrapped up feeling more like an early taste of spring than the heart of winter along the Front Range, with warm spells, frequent downslope winds, and only fleeting brushes with snow. Boulder spent much of the month running well above normal, dodging storm after storm as the real winter weather stayed locked in the Mountains and across the eastern half of the country. Here’s a quick and colorful graphical recap of our weather during January and how it relates to climatology.
This weekend’s forecast looks nothing like the mild stretch we’ve been coasting through so far in 2026. A sharp pattern shake‑up is finally knocking on eastern Colorado’s door. An Arctic airmass is set to spill into the Front Range Thursday night, bringing the coldest temperatures of the season and eventually a round of light, fluffy snow. We break down the timing, impacts, and just how low those temperatures will go—plus why the rest of the country is gearing up for a far bigger and historic winter storm.
2025 was one of those years where Boulder’s weather never seemed content with a single storyline. We opened with a bitter Arctic punch that delivered our coldest January in nearly two decades, only to swing into a summer packed with 90°+ heat, smoky afternoons, and the hottest day since 2012. The monsoon showed up often but rarely with much enthusiasm, fall dried out in a hurry, and our first snow didn’t arrive until November 29th — the latest on record by a country mile. Now that the dust (and smoke, and snow) has settled, we’ve pulled together a full graphical recap of the temperature swings, precipitation quirks, record‑setting moments, and long‑term trends that defined Boulder’s and Colorado’s atmosphere in 2025. If you want the full story behind the chaos — and a clearer picture of where 2025 truly landed — this is a fun one to dive into. Be warned, there really are 100 charts and visuals to explore. Enjoy!
Boulder’s “official” climate record has never lived in one place for long. Over the past 130 years, the instruments that track our temperature, precipitation, and snowfall have been relocated again and again—sometimes only a few blocks, other times miles away into landscapes with completely different quirks and microclimates. Each move left its own imprint on the long‑term dataset we use today, subtly shaping how we compare modern conditions with the Boulder of decades past.
This Christmas will be a scorcher across the Front Range with temperatures soaring towards record highs near 70 degrees, but snow is often part of the equation here on Christmas, whether falling or on the ground. We take a broader look at White Christmas occurrences in Boulder’s historical record and discuss why Christmas Day, out of all days, has one of the highest probabilities of snow on the ground here.
December has been anything but typical along the Front Range, with Boulder shattering warmth records and enduring weeks of bone‑dry weather that have fueled fire danger and stressed our local trees. As we head into Christmas, the holiday will feel more like patio season than sledding weather, with record highs likely and no snow available outside of the Mountains. But don’t pack away the winter gear just yet—a sharp cooldown and even a chance for light snow are on the horizon this weekend. We take a closer look this historically warm and dry December, the scorching Christmas forecast, and peek ahead to what’s next.
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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