Very strong winds developed over portions of the Front Range mountains and foothills. Peak wind gusts included: 98 mph, 2 miles south-southeast of Gold Hill, 86 mph atop Berthoud Pass, 83 mph atop Peak 8 at Breckenridge Ski Area with 75 mph, 3 miles east of Gold Hill.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS BOU wrote it up.
Very strong winds developed over portions of the Front Range mountains and foothills. Peak wind gusts included: 98 mph, 2 miles south-southeast of Gold Hill, 86 mph atop Berthoud Pass, 83 mph atop Peak 8 at Breckenridge Ski Area with 75 mph, 3 miles east of Gold Hill.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 17, 9:50 PM MST, 4 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 950 PM MST Sat Feb 17 2018 .UPDATE... Issued at 945 PM MST Sat Feb 17 2018 Flow aloft increasing again as expected late this evening. Component across the Front Range should peak late tonight as the jet lifts north a bit and becomes more southwesterly. Strong winds will continue after that and there will be decent mixing to the surface for a warm and windy day Sunday, but the high wind threat should be less by mid morning, except maybe areas above timberline. Main change at this hour was for more gradient wind on the plains and in the mountain valleys. It looks like this should persist, so those areas got a nudge upward through tomorrow. Temperatures were already expected to stay mild, so we have opted to leave those alone though the windier areas may be a little warmer than forecast. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday) Issued at 324 PM MST Sat Feb 17 2018 Strong westerly flow aloft is going to continue over the state tonight with a region of strong flow at 700 mb impinging on the high country overnight. As the flow increases, winds over the ridges and down the east slopes of the foothills will strengthen. The High Wind Warning that has been in effect will continue through tonight. With 700 mb winds expected to increase to 60 to 70 knots, winds at the normally windy locations could top 80 MPH overnight. The strongest winds are forecast to be in place from 03z thru 15z, so an extended period of windy conditions will be possible. The airmass over the state is currently dry, so no other sensible weather is expected overnight. The dry conditions should continue through much of tomorrow, before mid-level moisture begins increasing over the northern mountains late in the afternoon. On the plains, the dry westerly flow will bring a very warm day with highs into the mid 60s across the plains. Over the eastern Palmer Divide, the warm temperatures will drop humidities down to the lower or mid teens. This may lead to elevated fire danger levels. A Red Flag Warning will be issued for Sunday afternoon. .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday) Issued at 324 PM MST Sat Feb 17 2018 Main forecast concerns shift to winter weather and a return to snow and very cold temperatures. Sunday night and Monday, a broad deep trough carves into the Great Basin. Southwest flow aloft will gradually moisten over the forecast area as some moisture is drawn up through Arizona. This can be seen in the 700-500 mb specific humidity plots with values of 2 g/kg advecting into the state. Our forecast area will remain on the edge of the better moisture plume, but zone 31 near Rabbit Ears Pass could get in on some heavier snowfall starting late in the evening or overnight Sunday night, as this area is less sheltered by southwest flow. There is potential for a heavier snow band to set up in this area due to the mid level frontogenesis and location of the upper level jet through Monday, so we've issued a Winter Storm Watch for Rabbit Ears Pass area starting late Sunday evening and continuing through Monday and Monday night. Confidence is only marginal at this point, however, as if moisture band does not make it to Zone 31 tomorrow night the duration of the storm could be limited to just Monday into Monday evening, reducing snow accumulations. We do expect that band of snow to gradually push eastward across the rest of the mountains Monday and Monday night as the upper trough shifts eastward during this time frame. At this point, accumulations would most likely support an eventual Winter Weather Advisory with 4-10 inches of snow over most of the mountains, but up to 15" in Zone 31 as long as the band develops there Sunday night. On the plains, a shallow but strong cold front will back across the area from the northeast. The shallow nature of the cold air will once again allow for potential for freezing drizzle starting Sunday night. This can be diagnosed by the latest model soundings and cross sections showing limited potential for ice nucleation and considerable supercooled liquid water (i.e. temps warmer than -10C in the moist layer). The cold air does get deeper during the day on Monday, so that should help freezing drizzle eventually turnover to snow. Best snow accumulation should be Monday night when main jet energy shifts across the plains and moisture deepens. At this time, expecting this to be mainly a light snow vent with 1-4" across the lower elevations. Temperatures will be much colder starting Monday. Reduced high temperatures a few more degrees as we see little hope for warming from Sunday night's lows given stratus deck and light freezing drizzle or flurries through the day. Single digit lows are likely across the plains Monday night, and then barely reach the teens on Tuesday. Drier air moves in Tuesday with lingering light snow decreasing and coming to an end. Drier weather will develop by Wednesday and Thursday with moderating temperatures. But readings should still stay below normal with general troughiness over the state. Then next weather system could bring a return of just some light snow by Friday and Saturday. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Sunday night) Issued at 945 PM MST Sat Feb 17 2018 VFR through Sunday. KDEN/KAPA will have south winds gusting to 20-25 knots, becoming more westerly Sunday afternoon. There is a chance of west winds gusting to 30 knots for a few hours Sunday afternoon. AT KBJC periods of strong winds gusting to 35 knots and LLWS are expected overnight, with a steadier west wind during the day Sunday. There is a chance of gusts as high as 50 knots for a few hours Sunday morning. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 324 PM MST Sat Feb 17 2018 With the dry and warm conditions expected tomorrow, will upgrade the Fire Weather Watch on the eastern Palmer Divide to a Red Flag Warning. Will not include Douglas County and western Elbert County (zone 41) in the warning since satellite imagery earlier today showed that a good portion of the zone still had a few inches of snow on the ground. Soil moisture conditions in this area are probably sufficient to limit any fire activity tomorrow. However, further east, the dormant vegetation is probably dry enough that dangerous fire behavior would be possible. Humidity values will bottom out in the mid teens, with gusts well into the 20s and afternoon temperatures in the mid and upper 60s. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from 11 AM to 5 PM MST Sunday for COZ246-247. High Wind Warning until 8 AM MST Sunday for COZ033>036. Winter Storm Watch from Sunday evening through late Monday night for COZ031. && UPDATE...Gimmestad SHORT TERM...Dankers LONG TERM...Barjenbruch AVIATION...Gimmestad FIRE WEATHER...Dankers
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 1059 AM MST Sat Feb 17 2018 COZ030>051-181800- Jackson County Below 9000 Feet- West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet- Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet- South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/ Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet- South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/ Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above 9000 Feet-Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet- Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet- Central and Southeast Park County- Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County- Boulder And Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet/West Broomfield County- North Douglas County Below 6000 Feet/Denver/West Adams and Arapahoe Counties/East Broomfield County- Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet- Northeast Weld County-Central and South Weld County-Morgan County- Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties- North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln County- Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County- Logan County-Washington County-Sedgwick County-Phillips County- 1059 AM MST Sat Feb 17 2018 ...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE FRONT RANGE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS WITH HIGH WINDS REDEVELOPING TONIGHT... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE SUNDAY AFTERNOON... This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Strong and gusty west winds of 40 to 55 mph will continue in the mountains and higher Front Range foothills today. Northwest winds of 20 to 35 mph can also be expected on the plains near the foothills and along the Wyoming border. Tonight, chinook winds are likely to become quite strong and gusty in the Front Range mountains and foothills with gusts of 55 to 85 mph possible in areas prone to high winds. A High Wind Warning remains in effect for the the mountains and foothills due to the expected increase in winds this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday The strong winds in the Front Range mountains and foothills will continue through Sunday morning and then decrease by afternoon. Wind gusts from 65 to 80 mph will be possible in areas prone to high winds, such as open terrain above timberline and east slopes of the Front Range generally above 7000 feet. Elevated fire danger is expected over the Palmer Divide Sunday afternoon with low humidities and gusty southwest winds. After a dry and warm Sunday, another Pacific storm system is expected to bring snow and much colder temperatures to the outlook area Monday and Tuesday. It's possible that temperatures on the plains Tuesday may not reach the 20 degree mark. Snow amounts with this storm still remain uncertain at this time, but it appears several inches of snow can be anticipated in the mountains, with lighter snow accumulations over most of the plains. Dry and warmer weather should then return to the outlook area Wednesday and Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight. However, reports of strong winds will be appreciated.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
1052 PM MST SAT FEB 17 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0206 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSE GOLD HILL 40.03N 105.40W
02/17/2018 M98 MPH BOULDER CO MESONET
MESONET STATION E4131, 2 SSE GOLD HILL.
1030 PM NON-TSTM WND GST BERTHOUD PASS 39.79N 105.76W
02/17/2018 M83 MPH CLEAR CREEK CO AWOS
1212 AM NON-TSTM WND GST BERTHOUD PASS 39.79N 105.76W
02/17/2018 M82 MPH CLEAR CREEK CO AWOS
AWOS STATION 0CO, BERTHOUD PASS.
1259 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 E GOLD HILL 40.05N 105.35W
02/17/2018 M75 MPH BOULDER CO MESONET
MESONET STATION E4338, 3 E GOLD HILL.
0100 AM NON-TSTM WND GST BERTHOUD PASS 39.80N 105.78W
02/17/2018 M72 MPH GRAND CO MESONET
MESONET STATION CABTP, BERTHOUD PASS.
0355 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW CRESCENT VILLAGE 39.90N 105.34W
02/17/2018 M70 MPH JEFFERSON CO MESONET
MESONET STATION D9321, 2 SSW CRESCENT
VILLAGE.
0120 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SW ROCKY FLATS 39.87N 105.24W
02/17/2018 M70 MPH JEFFERSON CO MESONET
MESONET STATION CO109, 2 SW ROCKY FLATS.
0659 AM NON-TSTM WND GST ASPEN SPRINGS 39.83N 105.48W
02/17/2018 M69 MPH GILPIN CO MESONET
MESONET STATION C5066, ASPEN SPRINGS.
0900 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WNW LOVELAND PASS 39.67N 105.89W
02/17/2018 M69 MPH CLEAR CREEK CO MESONET
0300 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NW GLEN HAVEN 40.47N 105.45W
02/16/2018 M69 MPH LARIMER CO MESONET
MESONET STATION E4490, 1 NW GLEN HAVEN.
0135 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 E BUCKEYE 40.81N 105.04W
02/17/2018 M67 MPH LARIMER CO MESONET
MESONET STATION BEYC2, 4 E BUCKEYE.
0518 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ENE WARD 40.08N 105.49W
02/17/2018 M67 MPH BOULDER CO MESONET
MESONET STATION C5038, 1 ENE WARD.
0200 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WNW LOVELAND PASS 39.67N 105.89W
02/17/2018 M66 MPH CLEAR CREEK CO MESONET
MESONET STATION CALVP, 1 WNW LOVELAND PASS.
0640 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 ENE DUMONT 39.80N 105.56W
02/17/2018 M61 MPH GILPIN CO MESONET
MESONET STATION E1312, 2 ENE DUMONT.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, February 2018
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: 742406, 742407.