High Wind in Colorado

Events

4,182

Deaths

11

Injuries

91

Damage

$79 million

• Wildfire and High Wind in Colorado, December 30, 20212 deaths · 12 injured · $2.0 billion · 94 kt wind · 4 eventsThe combination of very high winds and extremely dry conditions produced the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history ($2 Billion), the Marshall Fire. It was also one of the costliest fires in U.S. history.
• Wildfire and High Wind in Colorado, March 26 to 31, 20123 deaths · $11 million · 61 kt wind · 4 eventsStrong southwest winds ahead of an approaching cold front produced high to extreme fire danger across the Front Range Foothills and Palmer Divide.
• High Wind in Colorado, January 9, 20172 deaths · $20 million · 90 kt wind · 14 eventsA long-lasting high wind episode occurred across the eastern part of the area. Strong winds aloft, and a long-lasting mountain top stable layer generated widespread high winds and damage.
• High Wind in Colorado, January 19, 20092 deaths · 6 injured · $250,000 · 50 kt wind · 1 eventStrong northwest winds gusting to 58 mph occurred over northern Lincoln County. The combination of strong winds and very dry conditions caused areas of blowing dust and dirt to create brownout conditions.
• High Wind in Colorado, October 29, 19961 death · 5 injured · $5.2 million · 88 kt wind · 10 eventsHigh winds gusting from 70 to around 100 mph blasted across much of Northeast Colorado.
• Dust Storm and Heavy Snow in Colorado, December 12 to 15, 20211 death · 93 kt wind · 146 eventsA potent upper level system and surface low approached the region late in the day on the 14th, and then lifted across Colorado during the day on the 15th.
• Damaging Winds and High Wind in Colorado, August 2, 20081 death · 6 injured · 58 kt wind · 4 eventsFive children and one adult were injured when winds, from a dry microburst, picked up an inflateable play house at Larimer County Reservoir. The wind swept up the house from its location on the beach, and knocked it into a steel pole before it came to a stop.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in Colorado, April 17, 20181 death · 2 injured · 89 kt wind · 17 eventsPowerful post frontal bora winds blasted along the Front Range Foothills and across Northeast and East-Central Colorado. The damaging wind gusts ranged from 60 to 90 mph. A woman in Louisville died after she was struck by a falling tree branch.
• High Wind in Colorado, December 31, 20111 death · 1 injured · 109 kt wind · 17 eventsA fast moving upper level storm system, along with a deep low pressure system over Nebraska and high pressure building over Utah, combined to create a powerful windstorm across Northeast and North Central Colorado.
• High Wind in Colorado, February 5, 19991 death · $30,000 · 60 kt wind · 1 eventStrong west winds, generally gusting to 50 mph, were occurring over the Walsenburg area the morning of the 5th. An isolated gust, of unknown magnitude, but estimated at just under 70 mph, overturned a semi-truck hauling half a mobile home.
• High Wind in Colorado, May 20, 20016 injured · $3.4 million · 72 kt wind · 10 eventsIntense winds developed as a vigorous cold front, accompanied by a line of thunderstorms, spilled over the Cheyenne Ridge and moved rapidly across the Urban Corridor and Northeast Plains. Peak wind gusts to 83 mph (72 kts) downed trees and power lines.
• Dust Storm and High Wind in Colorado, January 13 to 15, 20211 death · 101 kt wind · 18 eventsA 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.
• Blizzard and High Wind in Colorado, March 13 to 14, 20191 death · 52 kt wind · 11 eventsA rapidly intensifying storm system or bomb cyclone brought hurricane strength winds to the northeast plains of Colorado, along with moderate to heavy snowfall. Peak wind gusts ranged from 60 to 80 mph.
• Wildfire and High Wind in Colorado, October 26, 20211 death · 1 injured · 52 kt wind · 3 eventsThroughout the day, a cold front gradually moved into Eastern Colorado, causing wind speeds to increase throughout the afternoon with gusts up to 60 mph across Yuma and Kit Carson counties.
• High Wind in Colorado, May 11, 20221 death · 70 kt wind · 4 eventsA strong area of low pressure lifted over the Great Basin and caused the pressure gradient to tighten over western Colorado. The presence of a strong jet aloft and deep mixing resulted in widespread wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph.
• Dust Storm and High Wind in Colorado, April 18, 20041 death · 59 kt wind · 3 eventsAn intense low pressure area over the Northern Plains and a strong mid-level jetstream combined to produce a widespread high wind and blowing dirt event across eastern Colorado, western Kansas and parts of SW Nebraska.
• High Wind in Colorado, April 9 to 10, 1999$14 million · 85 kt wind · 11 eventsAnother round of damaging winds buffeted eastern Colorado, in and near the foothills from Fort Collins south to Pueblo, as well as portions of the adjacent plains. Total damages estimates were at $13.8 million, This estimate also included damage to areas in southeast Colorado.
• Hail and High Wind in Colorado, June 20, 200419 injured · $2,000 · 56 kt wind · 6 eventsNineteen people were injured by lightning at the Fourth Annual Kremmling Cliff Classic Golf Tournament. The group of people were on a bluff overlooking the town when the lightning struck. Four people had to be hospitalized, two suffered serious injuries.
• High Wind in Colorado, April 8, 1999$7.2 million · 100 kt wind · 13 eventsAnother damaging windstorm ravaged much of northeast Colorado to the tune of $7.2 million, making it the third costliest storm to strike the region. Most of the damage to homes ($4.35 million) consisted of broken fences, awnings, doors and windows.
• High Wind in Colorado, April 11, 2001$6.1 million · 69 kt wind · 7 eventsAn intense low pressure system moving from southeast Colorado into northern Kansas produced damaging winds across the southeast Colorado plains.
• High Wind in Colorado, December 29 to 30, 2008$7.0 million · 96 kt wind · 3 eventsVery strong Chinook winds blasted areas in and near the Front Range Foothills of Larimer, Boulder and Jefferson Counties. The wind blew down trees and power poles, downed electrical lines and fences, and damaged homes and vehicles.
• Damaging Winds and High Wind in Colorado, June 6, 20202 injured · 96 kt wind · 116 eventsA combination of an upper level trough moving northwest across the state, coupled with a strong surface pressure gradient, led to numerous reports of high wind gusts across the region.
• High Wind in Colorado, February 22, 19966 injured · $400,000 · 76 kt wind · 5 eventsHigh winds occurred along the lee slopes of the Rampart Range and Wet Mountains in the morning hours. Winds gusted to over 60 knots throughout much of that area...with a peak gust of 76 knots at Monument in El Paso county. Winds at the Air Force Academy gusted to 72 knots.
• High Wind in Colorado, February 2 to 3, 1999$3.0 million · 110 kt wind · 9 eventsA powerful chinook windstorm struck the Front Range Foothills and adjacent plains. Several locations registered peak wind gusts in excess of 100 mph.
• High Wind in Colorado, January 7, 20093 injured · $1.0 million · 93 kt wind · 5 eventsDamaging downslope winds were responsible for triggering two wildfires, that threatened the city of Boulder. Wind gusts ranging from 75 to 107 mph downed power lines, which ignited the wildfires.

High Wind everywhereEvery kind of event in Colorado

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.