Colorado, 1998

High Wind in Colorado, November 10, 1998

November 10, 1998 · NWS BOU · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Strong bora winds gusting from 70 to 92 mph (80 kts), coupled with blowing snow, created whiteout and slick black ice conditions at the base of the Front Range Foothills. State Highway 93, between Golden and Boulder, and C-470, near the Morrison interchange, were closed for several hours due to multiple accidents.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
1
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BOU wrote it up.

Strong bora winds gusting from 70 to 92 mph (80 kts), coupled with blowing snow, created whiteout and slick black ice conditions at the base of the Front Range Foothills. State Highway 93, between Golden and Boulder, and C-470, near the Morrison interchange, were closed for several hours due to multiple accidents. Dozens of motorists were stranded until weather conditions improved. A small motor home was a total loss when it caught fire after being blown on its side by strong crosswinds. A man was injured when he was blown off the vehicle while attempting to rescue the occupants.Peak wind gusts included: 92 mph (80 kts) at Blue Mountain near Coal Creek, 83 mph (72 kts) atop Fritz Peak near Rollinsville, 77 mph (67 kts) at Jefferson County Airport, 76 mph (66 kts) 2.5 miles south of Estes Park, with 73 mph (63 kts) registered atop Loveland Pass and 9 miles west southwest of Rustic.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Southern Front Range Foothills/Clear Creek Basin

When
November 10, 4:30 AM MST to 11:00 AM MST
Where
Southern Front Range Foothills/Clear Creek Basin forecast zone
Measured
80 kt (92 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
39.516, -105.413 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Summit County/Mosquito Range/Indian Peaks

When
November 10, 4:30 AM MST to 11:00 AM MST
Where
Summit County/Mosquito Range/Indian Peaks forecast zone
Measured
72 kt (83 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
39.726, -105.675 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northern Front Range Foothills/Upper Laramie and Cache la Poudre River Basins

When
November 10, 4:30 AM MST to 11:00 AM MST
Where
Northern Front Range Foothills/Upper Laramie and Cache la Poudre River Basins forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.380, -105.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Denver Metropolitan Area

When
November 10, 4:30 AM MST to 11:00 AM MST
Where
Denver Metropolitan Area forecast zone
Measured
67 kt (77 mph)
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.714, -104.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Boulder County/Boulder and Vicinity / E Boulder / X Sw Weld

When
November 10, 4:30 AM MST to 11:00 AM MST
Where
Eastern Boulder County/Boulder and Vicinity / E Boulder / X Sw Weld forecast zone
Measured
67 kt (77 mph)
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
39.878, -105.220 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, November 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5672123, 5672124, 5672125, 5672126, 5672127.