A widespread high wind event occurred, as a powerful cold front rolled through the Interior Northwest and northern Rockies before reaching the Midwest. Strong and damaging winds developed across north central and northeast Colorado.
Every event with a place to put it; 18 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.
A widespread high wind event occurred, as a powerful cold front rolled through the Interior Northwest and northern Rockies before reaching the Midwest. Strong and damaging winds developed across north central and northeast Colorado. A peak wind gust of 116 mph was measured at Breckenridge Ski Area, at an elevation of 12,573 feet in the early morning hours of the 14th. In the foothills of Boulder and Larimer counties, a large shed blew over and smashed into a parked car in Gold Hill, and the wind snapped two poles near the Glen Haven General Store leading to power outages in the area. Across metro Denver, a fallen tree brought down power lines and sparked a small grass and shed fire; another tree fell into a house in Centennial. No injuries were reported. Numerous downed trees and power outages occurred over parts of northeast Colorado. On the 15th, the Colorado Department of Transportation closed Interstate 70 between Airpark Rd and the Kansas Stateline because of a dust storm that left drivers with zero visibility and led to several crashes. U.S. 287/40 from Limon to Kit Carson was also closed. A fatal accident on I-70 in Lincoln County, halfway between Genoa and Arriba. At least one fatality was confirmed, with 15 accident victims transported to Limon hospital.
In the mountains and foothills, peak gusts included: 116 mph at Breckenridge Ski Resort, 99 mph near Glen Haven, 94 mph near Crisman, 83 mph near Arapahoe Basin and Blackhawk; 80 mph near Marshall, 79 mph near Berthoud Pass, 78 mph along I-25 near Buckeye and Copper Mountain; 77 mph near Nederland and Wellington; 76 mph near Pinecliffe, 75 mph at Virginia Dale, 74 mph at Walden, 66 mph near Frisco, and 65 mph at Tabernash.
Across the urban corridor and northeast plains of Colorado, peak wind gusts included: 81 mph, 8 miles south of Holyoke; 74 mph near Julesburg, 72 mph near Greeley and Limon; 71 mph near Crook, 69 mph near Centennial and Hugo; 67 mph northwest of Nunn; 66 mph at Akron, Holyoke and near Severance; 65 mph near Eaton, Natural Fort Rest Area and near Wiggins; 64 mph in Broomfield, along U.S. 85 near the Wyoming Stateline and Crow Creek; 63 mph near Cedar Point, Elizabeth and Northglenn; 62 mph at Fort Morgan, near Pawnee Pass, Strasburg and Sterling; 60 mph in Burdett, near Buckley AFB, Castle Pines, Lone Tree and Parker; 59 mph near Littleton and Nunn; 58 mph near Briggsdale, Denver International Airport, and Ovid.
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 Jan 13, 4:25 AM MST, 2 hours 7 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 425 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021 .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 100 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021 Heading in to a more active period today with increasing winds in the foothills, especially northern foothills, and chances for snow over the higher terrain. NW jet stream flow across Colorado with a ridge of high pressure centered off the southern California/Baja coasts, and troughing over the eastern US. A shortwave trough will move in from the northwest in the northern stream, and while center of the upper low will track across southern Canada the trough axis will clip Colorado in the 00-09z Thursday timeframe. This same timeframe coincides with the nose of a 150+kt 300 mb jet over northern Colorado. Higher RH air moves in from the northwest as well, and QG ascent associated with jet dynamics and trough will generate snow mainly over the northern mountains for a period tonight. Despite good dynamics, snow totals barely 6 inches over the higher elevations of zone 31/western Jackson & Grand counties. Believe any impacts will be from snow squall nature of snow with the passing trough. Lapse rates steepen in the 03-09z time period with a small area of positive CAPE over the northern mountains, and snow squall parameter showing positive values as well. Briefly considered an advisory, but feel like handling higher impacts with snow squall warnings will be the way to go. Will have to keep in mind overnight timing will lessen travel impacts. Now for the wind. Wind to increase today over the foothills and adjacent plains, especially in the north. Tightening pressure gradient with the approaching trough indicated by local Sangster model indicates potential for wind gusts 60 kts or higher. Not an ideal mountain wave setup, with model cross sections and forecast soundings showing 40-50 kt mountain top winds and lack of a stable layer just above. In addition, QG fields and model soundings showing upward motion rather than subsidence to force a mountain wave downward. Stronger wind forecast will rely on dynamics of approaching trough and upper jet, moreso than classic mountain wave setup. All that to say we will go ahead and upgrade the high wind watch to a warning beginning here in the short term and continuing into the extended. Temperatures...warmer today still in pre-frontal regime, with westerly downslope adding a few more degrees, and 700 mb temps a couple degrees warmer than yesterday. Cooling tonight with passage of surface front. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday) Issued at 100 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021 Northern Colorado will be characterized by a moderate to strong north to northwest flow aloft through much of the upcoming week. The main threats will be the high wind potential continuing through much of Thursday and possibly even into Friday. Temperatures for the upcoming week will generally be around seasonal normals with a chance for snow on Saturday and again on Monday. For Thursday, the strong upper low will be approaching the Great Lakes region, but there will be a very strong northerly flow on the back side, even as far back as Eastern Colorado with a very strong 150kt+ jet oriented north to south across the northeast plains. There will still be strong QG subsidence Thursday morning, decreasing by afternoon. Expect good mixing in the lower levels which should bring down the stronger winds and gusts around 60 mph across much of the plains. Temperatures will be much cooler on Thursday behind the cold front with readings down into the 30s. Expect the highest winds to subside a bit Thursday night as airmass decouples some. On Friday, strong northerly flow aloft continues over the state with the potential for high winds still the main threat. Airmass rather dry so not expecting any precipitation. Low level flow still close to 50kt and with some subsidence and low level mixing that we could still be close to high wind criteria on the far plains Friday with 45-50kt just off the deck across the northeast plains. There will also be some elevated fire weather concerns on the plains Friday afternoon given the expected high winds. Humidity levels will drop into the 15-20 percent range, so not quite low enough for criteria for Red Flag but certainly so concerns there. Since we already will have a high wind warning on Thursday have decided to delay further wind hilites on Friday since there will be a lull in the winds Thursday night. There is still threat for high winds over the Front Range foothills with some wave amplification expected again with mountain top stability. Not sure how much the strong northerly flow will impact the wave, so confidence not as high for the higher winds in the foothills. For now for simplicity sake will ride the high wind warning into Friday, but certainly there will be lulls in the Thursday through Friday period. For Saturday. a fast moving upper trof will move across Colorado with a quick shot of snow showers, mainly in the mountains but possibly across the plains well. Overall dynamical forcing on the weaker side with the best QG ascent over the southwest Colorado. A brief break on Sunday then the next weak wave drops through the state on Monday and early Tuesday with the next chance of snow and cooler temperatures. Again, mountains look to benefit the most with some orographic snows, but mostly too much downslope flow across the plains. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday morning) Issued at 425 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021 Becoming very windy today, otherwise VFR. For KDEN wind, southwest wind becomes 27012kt by 18z. Forecast for NW direction at 20z comes from increased afternoon mixing into boundary layer. Mixing decreases this evening and wind returns back to due west surface flow. Shift back to 340 direction comes from surface front passage timed around 05z. A relative lull around sunrise through mid morning, then wind picks up again mid morning onward with better daytime mixing, gusts to 30 kts forecast through end of KDEN TAF period. KBJC, with proximity to foothills, starts the TAF period with G35 in prevailing. Wind just to west at Rocky Flats has been gusting to 30-35kts since around 09z, will not be difficult for strong wind to spread east a couple more miles. KAPA to resemble KDEN's patterns a little more closely, with similar peaks and lulls in wind speed and direction. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning from midnight tonight to 6 PM MST Thursday for COZ042>045-048>051. High Wind Warning from noon today to noon MST Friday for COZ035- 036-038-039. && SHORT TERM...Hanson LONG TERM...Entrekin AVIATION...Hanson
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 153 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021 COZ030>051-140900- 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- 153 AM MST Wed Jan 13 2021 ...Strong winds developing this afternoon to continue through at least Thursday... This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Winds will increase today, mainly over the high mountains, foothills, and near the Wyoming border where winds up to 70 mph are possible. Snow will develop Wednesday afternoon and night over the mountains, with strong wind and blowing snow causing hazardous travel conditions. A strong cold front will then push across the area late Wednesday night, increasing winds even further with gusts up to 80 mph possible in the mountains and up to 55 mph on the plains. A few snow showers may form along the front over the plains late Wednesday night. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Thursday and Friday will continue to be very windy across the Front Range Foothills and plains, especially during the afternoon hours. Wind gusts up to 60 mph can be expected on the plains and up to 75 mph over the foothills. This will also create high fire danger as humidity levels drop into the 15 to 25 percent range. A couple more fast moving weather systems will bring a chance of snow across the area Saturday and again on Monday. Temperatures will remain near seasonal normals for this time of year. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
17 high wind, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Peak gusts included: 78 mph along I-25 and Buckeye Road; 68 mph, 2 miles north-northeast of Natural Fort Rest Area; 67 mph, 5 miles northwest of Nunn.
Peak gusts included: 99 mph, 1 mile north of Glen Haven; 94 mph, 1 mile northeast of Crisman; 80 mph, 3 miles northwest of Marshall; 77 mph near , 4 miles east-northwest of Nederland and 1 mile northwest of Wellington; 76 mph, 3 miles east-southeast of Pinecliffe; 75 mph at Virginia Dale.
A peak wind gust of 64 mph was measured at Rocky Mountain Metro Airport, with some wind damage in Littleton.
Peak wind gusts included 65 mph, 2 miles east-northeast of Wiggins, and 62 mph at Fort Morgan Airport.
A peak wind gust of 62 mph was measured 2 miles southeast of Strasburg.
Peak wind gusts included: 72 mph at Limon Municipal Airport, 69 mph at Hugo, 63 mph, 3 miles south of Cedar Point, and 61 mph one mile east of Limon.
Peak wind gusts included: 69 mph, 2 miles east-southeast of Centennial, 58 mph at Denver International Airport.
Peak wind gusts included 60 mph, 1 mile north-northeast of Castle Pines, 2 miles north-northeast of Lone Tree, and 4 miles east-northeast of Parker.
Peak gusts: 116 mph at Breckenridge Ski Resort; 83 mph at Arapahoe Basin; 79 mph, 1 mile east-northeast of Berthoud Pass.
Peak gusts: 58 mph, 1 mile north-northwest of Briggsdale.
Peak gusts included 83 mph at Blackhawk.
Peak wind gusts included 74 mph at Walden Airport.
Peak wind gusts included: 74 mph near Julesburg, 58 mph, 2 miles north-northeast of Ovid.
Peak wind gusts included 62 mph along I-76 near Sterling.
Peak wind gusts included: 65 mph, 1 mile east-southeast of Eaton, 64 mph at Crow Creek, 62 mph, 4 miles northwest of Kersey, and 59 mph at Nunn.
Peak wind gusts included 81 mph, 8 miles south of Holyoke and 66 mph at Holyoke Airport.
Peak wind gusts included 66 mph at Akron-Washington County Airport and 60 mph in Burdett.
Strong winds produced near zero visibility along Interstate 70. Multiple accidents along|I-70 forced its closure due to strong winds and near zero visibility in blowing dust. There was one fatality, with another 15 transported to Limon Hospital. US 287/40 was also closed due to the hazardous travel conditions.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dust Storm, N & Ne Elbert County Below 6000 Feet / N Lincoln County | 2021-01-15 | 1 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, January 2021
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: 928747, 928744, 928748, 928751, 928752, 928753, 928905, 928906, 928761, 928749, 928745, 928775, 928757, 928755, 928750, 928758, 928756, 937867.