Strong winds hit Thornton and the Front Range

High winds hit the metro area on Tuesday morning.
High winds hit the metro area on Tuesday morning.

High winds have hit the Front Range with gusts exceeding 80mph in some areas.  These winds are extremely gusty and have the potential to cause damage and can make driving conditions difficult.  

A High Wind Warning remains in effect for much of the Front Range and foothills until 8:00am (see area map below).  While Thornton is not in the warning area, we have received our fair share as ThorntonWeather.com recorded a 51mph gust earlier this morning.  In the near term, west winds of 15 to 30 mph gusting to 45 mph are expected all along the I-25 corridor.  Gusts as high as 75 mph will occur near the base of the foothills and areas in northern Jefferson County, Boulder County and Larimer County in particular will receive the highest winds. 

These winds will cause blowing dust and drivers on north-south roads need to be wary as the cross winds could cause a loss of control.  It would not be surprising to hear of accidents with light weight or high profile vehicles this morning.  Power outages are of course a possibility as well. 

From the National Weather Service, here are some of the recorded gusts across the Front Range:

05:48 AM   12/30/2008    REPORTED BY: ASOS
BROOMFIELD COUNTY, CO   –  2 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF BROOMFIELD
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 78.00 MPH   ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL AIRPORT
 
05:48 AM   12/30/2008    REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
LARIMER COUNTY, CO   –   MASONVILLE
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 59.00 MPH    
 
05:15 AM   12/30/2008    REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
BOULDER COUNTY, CO   –  1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF ERIE
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 77.00 MPH    
 
04:45 AM   12/30/2008    REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
BOULDER COUNTY, CO   –  1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF ERIE
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 66.00 MPH    
 
04:20 AM   12/30/2008    REPORTED BY: MESONET
BOULDER COUNTY, CO   –  2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BOULDER
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 69.00 MPH   NCAR MESA LAB
 
03:28 AM   12/30/2008    REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
WELD COUNTY, CO   –  21 MILE NORTH OF NEW RAYMER
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 76.00 MPH    
 
02:48 AM   12/30/2008    REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO   –   LAKEWOOD
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 66.00 MPH    
 
02:10 AM   12/30/2008    REPORTED BY: MESONET
BOULDER COUNTY, CO   –  1 MILE WEST OF ELDORADO SPRINGS
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 66.00 MPH    
 
12:30 AM   12/30/2008    REPORTED BY: MESONET
BOULDER COUNTY, CO   –  2 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF BOULDER
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 67.00 MPH    
 
12:30 AM   12/30/2008    REPORTED BY: MESONET
JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO   –  9 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF BOULDER
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 82.00 MPH   ROCKY FLATS – NATIONAL WIND TECHNOLOGY CENTER
 
11:15 PM   12/29/2008    REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
BOULDER COUNTY, CO   –  2 MILES NORTH OF LONGMONT
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 84.00 MPH    
 
10:39 PM   12/29/2008    REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
LARIMER COUNTY, CO   –  BERTHOUD
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 91.00 MPH   CARTER LAKE
 
09:36 PM   12/29/2008    REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
BOULDER COUNTY, CO   –  2 MILES NORTH OF LONGMONT
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 71.00 MPH    
 
09:14 PM   12/29/2008    REPORTED BY: MESONET
JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO   –   ROCKY FLATS
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 78.00 MPH    
 
09:06 PM   12/29/2008    REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
LARIMER COUNTY, CO   –  BERTHOUD
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 88.00 MPH   AT CARTER LAKE
 
07:35 PM   12/29/2008    REPORTED BY: MESONET
BOULDER COUNTY, CO   –  2 MILES SOUTH OF BOULDER
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 65.00 MPH   NCAR MESA LABS
 
07:21 PM   12/29/2008    REPORTED BY: MESONET
BOULDER COUNTY, CO   –  3 MILES EAST OF GOLD HILL
NON-T-STORM WIND GUST  MEASURED AT 81.00 MPH    

 

A High Wind Warning is in effect for much of the western part of the Front Range through 8:00am Tuesday.
A High Wind Warning is in effect for much of the western part of the Front Range through 8:00am Tuesday.

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