Colorado is bracing for a weekend of extreme weather shocks as the Front Range moves from record-breaking heat and critical fire conditions to a full-blown winter storm in less than 24 hours.
Residents of Denver and surrounding areas have been urged to be weather aware as the state transitions from “fire to ice.”
Colorado is no stranger to “four seasons in a weekend,” but the transition from Saturday’s red flag warning to Sunday’s winter storm warning is a stark reminder of the region’s unpredictable climate.
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Saturday: Critical fire danger and high winds
Residents of Denver and much of the Plains will begin their Saturday with a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Unusually high temperatures, gusty winds and bone-dry humidity are likely to create a “powder keg” environment.
According to the forecast, winds are expected to gust between 35 and 50 miles per hour, making it nearly impossible to contain any spark.
Local fire departments have pre-prepared resources and have issued a strict outdoor burning ban for most of the Front Range.
Residents were advised to avoid any activity that could cause a spark, including using power tools outdoors or improperly disposing of cigarettes.
Denver’s high temperature is expected to hover near record highs in mid-March, making for a deceptive start to what will end up being a very cold weekend.
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Transition: Saturday night cold front
The weather will change dramatically late Saturday night as a strong cold front is expected to hit the Rockies. Temperatures are expected to drop as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit within hours.
By midnight, the dry air will give way to rising humidity, turning strong winds into precipitation.
Sunday: Winter warning for storms and snow
The Colorado landscape is likely to look very different Sunday morning as winter storm warnings are in effect for the Denver, Boulder and Foothills metro areas.
Forecasters are predicting significant snow accumulations, with the heaviest bands expected between 6am and 4pm on Sunday.
According to the current forecast, current models indicate that the Denver metro area will receive 5 to 9 inches of heavy, wet snow, while the Boulder and Golden areas are bracing for 8 to 12 inches of snow.
Colorado’s foothills and mountains are expected to receive 12 to 18 inches of snow Sunday.
The snow is expected to be “like cement” — heavy and rich in moisture — posing a risk to power lines and tree limbs that may already be stressed by Saturday’s strong winds.
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Travel advice
Traveling on Sunday will be dangerous. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is warning drivers to stay off the roads if possible, especially along the I-25 and I-70 corridors.
Rapidly cooling road surfaces cause the initial rain-to-snow transition to freeze quickly, creating a layer of “black ice” beneath the accumulating snow.
Visibility will also be a big issue as blowing snow will reduce visibility to near zero at times during the height of the storm on Sunday afternoon.
