Category: Fire Weather (Page 1 of 30)

Colorado Forecast Update: Damaging winds and near-critical fire danger for the Front Range on Wednesday, planned Xcel power shutdowns are highly likely

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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This Week in Colorado Weather: December 15, 2025

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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This Week in Colorado Weather: December 8, 2025

The Front Range finally saw its first real snow of the season last week, with Boulder picking up about 8 inches and the Foothills a bit more. The Mountains then cashed in over the weekend, stacking up one to four feet of powder. While this moisture is a welcome boost to our lagging snowpack, it’s not enough to erase drought concerns—but fire risk this year looks very different than the setup before the Marshall Fire. Looking ahead, the story shifts from snow to wind: multiple high‑wind events are on tap for the Foothills this week, while Boulder and Denver stay mostly dry and mild with highs in the 50s to 60s with occasional breeziness. Read on for the full breakdown of this week’s weather.

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Winter Storm Recap: After nearly eight months, the entire Front Range is once again blanketed in snow!

Winter finally showed up in style this week along the Front Range. After a sluggish start to the season, our first true snowstorm delivered nearly 18 hours of steady flakes, painting Boulder, Denver, and much of Colorado in white. But this wasn’t just a simple upslope event—there were some fascinating atmospheric twists that kept the snow machine running longer than expected. We review the storm setup and snowfall totals which greatly favored the western side of the Metro area including Boulder.

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Winter Storm Recap: That dusting of snow was Boulder’s latest first snowfall on record, and it wasn’t even close

Boulder’s long snow drought has finally ended—just shy of a record streak. An Arctic front swept through early Saturday, dropping temps fast and delivering the season’s first flakes. Boulder picked up 0.3″, the latest first snowfall ever recorded in the city and it wasn’t even close. Curious how our forecast stacked up and what’s next? Spoiler: Another round of snow is already knocking on the door for Sunday.

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Winter Weather Update: First snowflakes of the season possible Friday night in Boulder/Denver, up to 7 inches in the Mountains

A big change is about to hit Front Range: after one more warm, breezy Friday, a strong cold front sweeps in overnight, dropping temperatures to the coldest of the season. Will Denver and Boulder finally see their first snow? That’s not guaranteed, unfortunately, but the Mountains are in for several fluffy inches and tricky travel ahead. Read on for the full breakdown—including details on the timing, our snowfall map, travel impacts and what lies ahead for our next wintry system on Sunday.

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Forecast Update: A complicated forecast remains for the late-week storm, but whatever transpires will fall as chilly rain for the lower elevations

Enjoy Wednesday’s sunshine while it lasts—it’s the calm before a complicated storm setup arrives tomorrow. A pair of low‑pressure systems are set to interact in a complicated manner late Thursday into Friday, leaving big questions about how exactly things will unfold across eastern Colorado. Read on for our latest thoughts on the developing late-week autumn storm headed for the Front Range.

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This Week in Colorado Weather: November 10, 2025

This week brings a stretch of unseasonably warm and quiet mid-November weather across the Front Range, with highs holding in the upper 60s to low 70s through Friday. However, a stronger cold front arrives in time for the weekend and it could finally deliver a shot of snow. Models remain split on the system’s track, leaving the Metro area with only modest odds to see accumulating snow, while the Mountains look primed for several inches. With records for Boulder’s latest first snowfall and longest snow‑free streak hanging in the balance, this is a setup worth watching as the week unfolds.

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