Category: Fire Weather (Page 1 of 24)

*Premium* Storm Update – Mon 12/30/24 7:00AM | Widespread gusts over 40 MPH today will create elevated fire danger, but nothing too crazy as the latest data suggests lessened impacts

Westerly winds will quickly ramp up Monday morning with widespread gusts of 40 to 60 MPH expected across much of eastern Colorado today. While the latest model runs have indeed weakened the forecasted winds somewhat, fire danger will definitely be elevated through the day. We review the latest model data and provide an update on how the high winds, Mountain snow, and fire risk will unfold on Monday.

NOTE: Due to the ongoing weather event, our usual weekly outlook forecast will be posted on Tuesday this week. Check back then for a broader outlook of the next five days.

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Forecast Update: Widespread gusty winds will create elevated fire danger on Monday, plus possible blowing dust and isolated power outages

Exactly three years to the day since a thousand Boulder County homes burned to the ground in the Marshall Fire, the Front Range is bracing for a similar yet tamer weather event on Monday, with high winds, elevated fire danger, and Mountain snow on the way. A quick-moving storm system will bring widespread gusts over 40 MPH to the area, creating conditions favorable for the spread of wildfires across most of drought-stricken northeast Colorado. While Monday is not expected to be as nearly bad as that fateful day three years ago, we urge you to remain vigilant to prevent any fire ignitions on Monday. We discuss the latest forecast, including how the developing conditions for Monday compare and contrast to those back in 2021.

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November 2024 Graphical Weather Review: Modest but widespread drought improvement in eastern Colorado thanks to one of our all-time wettest Novembers

November 2024 was exceptionally moist across most of eastern Colorado, with some locations nabbing their wettest November on record. In Boulder, we received a respectable 2.64″ of moisture, good enough for 4th all-time since the late 1800s. While there is certainty still more work to do, the widespread wet weather allowed for modest drought improvement across much of the state. Despite a late and lackluster start to the snow season, Boulder and Denver have both surged above normal season-to-date. Here’s a quick and colorful graphical recap of our weather during November and how it relates to climatology.

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October 2024 Graphical Weather Review: Wrapping up the driest May to October period ever recorded in Boulder!

October was yet another exceptionally warm and dry month in the Front Range, with most areas landing more than six degrees above average while receiving very little if any precipitation. The period of May to October only produced 4.64″ of precipitation in Boulder, the driest such stretch in recorded history. It’s no surprise that drought has further expanded across the region. In contrast to our boring weather, space-related activity was booming in October with multiple nights of auroras lighting up Colorado’s skies and a multi-week comet display. Here’s a quick and colorful graphical recap of our weather during October and how it relates to climatology.

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Colorado Forecast Update: Plan now for the “one-two punch” of our first snow and first hard freeze of the season!

Get ready, Colorado! The first snowflakes and a hard freeze of the season are on their way as this dramatic shift in weather across the state continues. Better late than never, right? We discuss when the snow will begin, how much could stick on the grassy surfaces, and when to expect the end to the 2024 growing season as temperatures are sure to plummet below freezing. We’re also tracking another potential snow event early next week. Here’s the latest.

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Colorado Forecast Update: After a month-long dry spell, precipitation will finally return to the Front Range this weekend, but not nearly as much as we need…

It’s been quite a long time since our last measurable precipitation in the Front Range, but that will change abruptly this weekend with the arrival of our next autumn storm system. Unfortunately the slow-moving low pressure will dive too far south into Arizona, largely fizzling out before ever reaching northeast Colorado. Nonetheless, it will bring a bit of rain, snow and much colder temperatures to our area for a few days. Read on for our latest thoughts on how the unsettled weekend ahead will play out. We also briefly review the entries to our 2024 First Snowfall Contest with predictions actually trending towards a later date than Boulder’s climatology would suggest (color us shocked!). There will indeed be some snowflakes in our forecast domain this weekend, but Boulder is not expected to see accumulating snow.

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