Colorado is set to experience a significant wind event this Friday, with gusts potentially reaching 100 mph in certain areas. A High Wind Warning is already in effect, forecasting winds of 60 to 100 mph, particularly in the mountains and foothills.
Friday’s Expected Conditions
Overnight, strong winds will begin to increase, especially in mountainous regions. Wind speeds will peak early Friday morning. The highest gusts, ranging from 60 to 80 mph, will likely occur in the high country, with specific ridges possibly exceeding 100 mph.
Warnings and Alerts
- High Wind Warning: Effective until 8 PM on Friday.
- Red Flag Warning: Active for the Denver metro area due to high fire risk.
Weather Forecast for Friday
Friday is anticipated to be extremely windy, warm, and dry. Downsloping winds will impact the foothills and urban corridor. The CO-93 corridor, particularly from Lyons through Boulder and into Jefferson County, may experience the most damaging gusts.
Temperatures are likely to approach record highs, with humidity dropping below 15%. This combination of high temperatures and low humidity elevates fire danger, with red flag conditions expected to extend into the evening.
Evening and Weekend Outlook
As Friday night approaches, winds are expected to gradually decrease, but gusts may still impact areas along the I-25 corridor and metro Denver. Fire weather concerns will persist into the evening due to inadequate humidity recovery.
On Saturday, snow is forecasted to return to the mountains, particularly north of Interstate 70, with light to moderate snow accumulations. This may lead to slick road conditions, especially from Georgetown to Vail Pass, impacting travel in the northern mountains.
Plains Conditions
In the plains, a weak cold front will bring increased cloudiness, with only a slight chance of sprinkles. Most lower elevations are expected to remain dry, with highs still reaching the 50s.
Long-Term Weather Trends
Mountain snow is anticipated to continue from Saturday night into Sunday, although totals may be lighter by then. Meanwhile, the Denver area will enjoy mild, mostly dry conditions this weekend, perfect for outdoor activities.
Looking ahead, the following week is projected to be unusually warm and dry, with temperatures potentially reaching the 60s, and perhaps even close to 70 early in the week. Any significant snowfall in the mountains is likely to be delayed until later next week, although confidence in this forecast remains low.
