Wildfire and High Wind in Colorado, December 17 to 18, 2025

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Goodland KS
438 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A High Wind Warning is in effect starting this evening as a
  cold front brings sporadic gusts up to 60 mph across the area.

- The High Wind Warning continues through tomorrow as another
  round of wind gusts between 50 and 65 mph are possible during
  the morning and afternoon hours. There is a low chance that
  gusts could reach 80 mph.

- A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the entire area Thursday
  as well. Fires could exhibit explosive growth and be
  impossible to control.

- Blowing dust is also possible Thursday. Be alert for changing
  conditions and brownouts.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 158 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025

Cloud cover has moved in over the area this afternoon, capping
temperatures in the 50s for most of the area so far. There are a few
60s and any breaks in the clouds should allow for more areas to
reach the 60s. The cloud cover and cooler temperatures have
prevented us from reaching critical fire weather criteria with
relative humidity generally above 25%. Winds still remain elevated
as the upper trough pushes into the Plains and the surface low
begins to near the area.

This evening, the winds are forecast to briefly let up around sunset
as the inversion begins to develop. However, the reprieve will be
short lived as a cold front is forecast to push through the area
with the trough and surface low advancing east. As the front moves
through, it is forecast to mix down some of the stronger winds above
the surface and allow for brief gusts around 50-60 mph along the
front. This has led to the high Wind Warning being pushed up to this
evening. On the back side, pressure rises of ~6mb per 3 hours should
allow winds to sustain around 30 mph and gusts around 45-50 mph. The
current timing is for the front to enter the Tri-State border area
around 7-8pm MT / 8-9pm CT and exit the area close to midnight.
Winds should lower slightly as the night goes on and the front
gets farther away. Temperatures should drop into the 30s with a
few 20s out west as the colder air moves in.

For Thursday, confidence has increased in a multiple hazard day. The
forecast remains on track for the trough to continue to push east
and dig south. This will keep the height gradients between 850mb and
500 mb tight, and allow for another round of strong wind gusts. As
the sun comes up and begins to mix near the surface, the strong
winds that were held up by the inversion should begin mixing to the
surface. The current forecast favors gusts around 50-65 mph, while
some of the stronger guidance suggests gusts could reach 80 mph. The
strongest wind gusts should be closer to North-Central Kansas and
South-Central Nebraska, which means southwestern portions of the
area may be far enough away to avoid the worst of the gusts. Winds
are forecast to sustain around 30 mph and are unlikely to get much
stronger unless the front stay closer to the area and tightens the
pressure gradient. As the sun heats the surface, lapse rates should
increase enough to begin lofting dust, especially with the strong
wind speeds. With the colder air moving in though, the lapse rates
around 1-2km are forecast to be low. As mixing heights around 5000ft
suggest, there may be a cap in place to hold the dust and
concentration. This should lead to plumes of blowing dust across the
area, but again favoring northeastern parts of the area. Be alert
for changing conditions and brownout conditions. Finally, a Red Flag
Warning has also been issued for the area. With the dry conditions
we have had recently and the forecast of fairly strong winds, fires
may become very hard if not impossible to control. With this, felt a
Red Flag Warning is needed. Either way, it will not be a good day to
burn.

There is a 15-20% chance that the area could see lighter winds and
lesser impacts. A couple of the ensemble members were suggesting
that the upper trough may push fast enough to the east that the
tighter height gradients and pressure gradients are east of the area
tomorrow. Winds would still be elevated, but more likely to be 20mph
gust 40 to 45 mph. In this scenario, blowing dust would be much more
isolated and the fire danger would be a little lower.

Tomorrow evening and night, the winds should lower initially as the
inversion sets up and temperatures cool down quickly. However, winds
should pick up around midnight as the next upper trough begins to
move along the Northern Plains and develop low pressure along the
Front Range. This should mix the lower levels and either steady or
warm temperatures. Speeds are forecast to reach 10 to 20 mph with
gusts up to 30 mph.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 215 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025

Friday, the upper trough is forecast to continue to push east along
the Northern Plains and Canada. While much further north and
limiting impacts, it is still forecast to help develop the low
pressure along the Front Range and increase the winds to around 10-
20 mph and gusts to 30 mph. With dry air in place, relative humidity
is forecast to drop into the teens, bringing a chance for critical
fire weather conditions. The best chances should be for counties
along the Colorado border. Similar to today though, there is a
chance that cloud cover may move through the upper flow and shield
the area. In this case, relative humidity may not be able to drop
into the teens with cooler temperatures due to the clouds. Depending
on how much moisture moves through, a few showers are also possible.

The weekend is forecast to remain a bit on the cooler side, but
still above average for the time of year as the area sits under
northwest flow aloft. Highs are forecast to be in the 50s with lows
in the 20s and 30s. As long as a shortwave doesn't move through and
stays north, winds should generally be around 10 to 20 mph with
gusts to 25 mph.

Christmas week continues to look relatively nice and mild for now as
the upper pattern transitions more to a zonal or slightly ridged
flow. Highs in the 60s with winds generally below 20 mph are
forecast, along with dry conditions.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 428 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025

Complicated TAF forecast for this period as a cold front moving
through ~02-03Z over KGLD and ~03-04Z over KMCK with winds
becoming gusty to ~45 kts with the frontal passage out of the
northwest some local blowing dust can't be ruled out tonight,
though it would likely be short lived. A brief lull in the
winds is expected around sunrise before winds pick up again
Thursday morning after 14Z. The strongest winds with gusts to
~50 kts are currently favoring over the KMCK terminal through
~22-23Z tomorrow. KGLD could see the high winds of 40-50 kts
through ~21-22Z. LLWS at ~200 ft is also a concern for the
terminals through ~16Z Thursday, shifting from southwest to
northwest with the frontal passage at 35-45 kts. Blowing dust
could become more of an issue Thursday with local plumes of dust
developing due to the winds and creating visibility
restrictions. Be alert for rapidly changing conditions and the
possibility of brown out conditions.

&&

.GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
KS...High Wind Warning until 5 PM MST /6 PM CST/ Thursday for
     KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042.
     Red Flag Warning from 7 AM MST /8 AM CST/ to 5 PM MST /6 PM
     CST/ Thursday for KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042.
CO...High Wind Warning until 5 PM MST Thursday for COZ090>092.
     Red Flag Warning from 7 AM to 5 PM MST Thursday for COZ252>254.
NE...High Wind Warning until 5 PM MST /6 PM CST/ Thursday for
     NEZ079>081.
     Red Flag Warning from 7 AM MST /8 AM CST/ to 5 PM MST /6 PM
     CST/ Thursday for NEZ079>081.

&&

SHORT TERM...KAK
LONG TERM...KAK
AVIATION...KMK

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Goodland KS
1236 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025

COZ090>092-KSZ001>004-013>016-027>029-041-042-NEZ079>081-181945-
Yuma-Kit Carson-Cheyenne-Rawlins-Decatur-Norton-Sherman-Thomas-
Sheridan-Graham-Wallace-Logan-Gove-Greeley-Wichita-Dundy-Hitchcock-
Red Willow-
1236 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025 /136 PM CST Wed Dec 17 2025/

This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southwest Nebraska...
northwest Kansas and east central Colorado.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

A High Wind Warning is in effect for the entire area this evening
through Thursday afternoon. A cold front should move through and
cause sudden and sporadic wind gusts up to 60 mph. Strong wind gusts
will create dangerous travel conditions, especially for high profile
vehicles.

Patches of blowing dust leading to visibility around half a mile to
a mile may also occur this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

Thursday morning and into the early afternoon hours, strong winds
near 40 mph and gusts around 60-65 mph are possible for the area,
favoring those east of Highway 25. A few gusts up to 80 mph could
occur.

Blowing dust is forecast to develop during the morning hours, with
low visibility and/or brown conditions possible. Be alert for
rapidly changing and hazardous driving conditions.

Thursday also has a Red Flag Warning in effect for the entire Tri-
State area. Explosive fire growth is possible and may make fire
impossible to control.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Active weather across portions of the Tri-State Area is anticipated.
Spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions.

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
809 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0744 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 8 N Benkelman           40.16N 101.53W
12/17/2025  M55 MPH          Dundy              NE   Mesonet

            Tallgrass Energy observation.

&&

JRM

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Goodland KS
818 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0805 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 8 ENE Clarkville        40.42N 102.47W
12/17/2025  M56 MPH          Yuma               CO   Mesonet

            Mesonet station PAI01 22 N Eckley.

&&

JRM