Author: BoulderCAST Team (Page 2 of 47)

This post had major contributions from at least two members of our team. The more meteorologists the better, right?

Winter Weather Update: After a six-week hiatus, snow finally returns to the Front Range on Friday (Updated)

A quick shot of winter weather is finally lining up for the Front Range, and this one has just enough cold air, upslope, and atmospheric ingredients to make things interesting. After weeks (months?) of springlike warmth and storms that couldn’t quite commit to generating lower elevation snow, this late‑week system is poised to break that streak—though not without a few twists. We discuss who is likely to get the most accumulation of wet snow, who gets skunked by downslope, and how fast we’ll bounce right back to sunshine and 60s once the flakes stop flying.

UPDATE (Friday 3/6/26 8:00AM): The majority of models have slowed our storm down allowing for a longer period of ideal snow ingredients to linger over the Front Range on Friday when moderate snow bands will impact the area. Snow amounts have been increased a tad regionwide, with slushy roads now favored for the lower elevations, and difficult travel in the Mountains/Foothills. Snow will continue all day Friday before tapering off Friday evening. Temperatures near and slightly above freezing will allow for a lot of melting. We discuss the changes to the forecast and the latest developments in Friday’s Premium Storm Update HERE.

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February 2026 Graphical Weather Review: Yet another exceptionally warm, dry and nearly snowless month of “winter”

February 2026 ran exceptionally warm, dry, and almost snowless across the Front Range—another month that felt more like an early spring preview than the heart of winter. Warm spells were frequent, with multiple days soaring into the 60s and even low 70s, while true winter cold was only brief and muted. February was a month defined by sunshine, downslope winds, fire danger, and a striking lack of moisture. It was officially Boulders 3rd warmest and 9th driest February on record. Here’s a quick and colorful graphical recap of our weather during February and how it relates to climatology.

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A Complete Failure of Winter Across the West — And What It Means for the Rest of 2026

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.

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January 2026 Graphical Weather Review: Another mild month on the Front Range with winter still nowhere to be found

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.

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Arctic Blast Update: Colorado turns cold, but largely misses out on the historic winter storm sweeping the nation this weekend

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.

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2025 in Review: Boulder’s Wildest Weather Moments of the Year Explored Through 100 Charts & Visuals

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!

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Why Boulder’s official weather station has moved so much over the last 130 years—and why it matters today

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.

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