Warm, gusty weather is kicking off the first full week of 2026, but the atmosphere has a few twists lined up as we move toward the weekend. A stubborn ridge will keep us mild early on as downslope winds ramp up fire concerns. However, a developing trough later in the week will turn us much colder — with even the possibility of snow for Boulder and Denver if the storm track cooperates. The details are still evolving, but there’s plenty to watch in the days ahead.
Category: Fire Weather (Page 1 of 31)
After a quick burst of weekend snow and our coldest temperatures since early December, the week ahead turns much quieter across Colorado. Temperatures will climb steadily as Boulder and Denver stay dry into the New Year, while the Mountains prepare for a well‑timed round of snow for the holiday weekend. We’ll walk you through the day‑to‑day weather this week, where the snow will fall, and check in on long‑range guidance which still isn’t advertising much in the way of winter for eastern Colorado.
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.
As we head into what’s normally the coldest stretch of the year along the Front Range, the atmosphere has other plans. Instead of Arctic air and snow globe conditions, we’re staring down a week of springlike warmth, fire weather concerns, and multiple shots at breaking long‑standing temperature records—including on Christmas Day. We’ll walk you through why this pattern is so unusual, what it means for Boulder and the Foothills, and where you can still find real winter this week if you’re craving it.
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.
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).
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