DENVER  Get ready for temperatures to take a nose dive, Denver. A much colder, wetter system will be arriving late Sunday into Monday, bringing widespread rain, mountain snow, and a sharp temperature drop.

The National Weather Service said a few flakes might even fall along the I25 corridor Monday afternoon, but accumulation is unlikely.

But before we see a return to winter-like weather, Sunday will bring another round of scattered storms with the best chance for severe weather on the far Northeast Plains, where hail will be the main threat.

Isolated strong to severe storms are possible this afternoon, with the highest risk for severe weather for the eastern plains and the Palmer Divide. Otherwise, expect beneficial rainfall this afternoon through Monday, the NWS said in an X post.

The barometer will begin to dip late Sunday and into Monday as widespread rain and mountain snow move into the area.

Mondays highs are expected to drop 2030 degrees from Sunday, with a morning freeze possible Tuesday morning across the Denver metro area and much of the plains.

The high country will likely see 4-15 inches of snow above 9,000 feet. The foothills are expected to get just a trace.

The northern I25 corridor is expecting up to 1.5 inches of rain on Monday.

On Tuesday, highs will climb a bit and stay in the 50s and 60s through midweek, with scattered afternoon showers possible on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A warming trend returns next weekend with highs back into the 70s and low 80s.

MORE: Hourly forecast | Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

Stream live, current temperatures plus radars across Colorado anytime for free on the free Denver7+ app on your TV or watch from your computer or mobile phone anytime.

DENVER Warm temperatures and active skies will set the stage for showers and thunderstorms later today, with the Eastern Plains at risk for large hail, damaging winds and even an isolated tornado.

The I-25 Corridor and foothills may see less-intense storms, but afternoon and evening hours could bring significantly stronger weather to areas farther east, depending on how far humid air pushes westward.

The Denver7 meteorologist Stacey Donaldson said a weather disturbance moving overhead will help storms develop, while a boundary near our area separates humid air to the east from much drier air to the west. Where that boundary settles will play a big role in storm intensity if the moist air moves farther toward I-25, the threat of severe weather expands. In the most humid zones, a few storms may produce large hail, damaging gusts up to 70 mph, and a small chance for an isolated tornado.

Other locations will still see showers and storms later today, but with lower severe impacts. The unsettled pattern continues into Sunday as another weather system approaches. Showers and thunderstorms are expected again during the afternoon and evening, along with breezy north winds. Small shifts in moisture and front placement will be key to Sundays storm strength even with modest instability, strong winds higher in the atmosphere could support a few strong to severe storms.

The Denver7 News team is tracking the latest severe weather alerts and storm reports below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

5:02 p.m. | Severe storm near Proctor | Warning in effect until 6:00 p.m., said NWS in Boulder.

4:28 p.m. | Philips County severe storm | Warning in effect until 5:15 p.m., said NWS in Boulder.

4:02 p.m. | Lincoln County severe storm | Quarter sized-hail also possible in Lincoln County. Severe t-storm warning issued until 4:30 p.m.

3:59 p.m. | New severe t-storm warning | Quarter sized-hail possible in storm near Akron. Severe t-storm warning issued until 4:45 p.m.

3:30p.m. | CSU ceremonies impacted | CSU Police & Safety on social media said CHHS ceremonies would be delayed Saturday:

Their post on X:

"Colorado State University is anticipating weather this afternoon around 3:30-4 p.m. The CHHS recognition ceremonies at Moby Arena will experience a delay and will now start at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m."

3:27p.m. | Grass fire reported | The NWS in Boulder also said a grass fire was reported north of Colorado Air and Space Port. Here's their social post below:

"Heads up if you're near Bennett: Ongoing grass fire to the north of the Colorado Air and Space Port. Winds are currently out of the N and NE," posted the NWS.

3:24p.m. | Severe t-storm warning | A storm near Hugo could produce half dollar-sized hail and 60 mph winds.

3:05 p.m. | Severe t-storm watch issued | Several Northeastern Colorado counties are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m., according to NWS in Boulder.

Colorado counties:

Kansas counties:

2:20 p.m. | Severe t-storm warning | NWS in Boulder is tracking a severe thunderstorm SW of Limon with quarter size hail possible

2:14 p.m. | Matheson storm |From NWS Boulder:

2:00 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm 'likely' |From NWS Storm Prediction Center:

1:45 p.m. | Tracking early stormss |From NWS in Boulder:

"A special weather statement has been issued for Simla CO and Matheson CO until 2:15 PM MDT"

12:45 p.m. | Stacey's Forecast | A weather disturbance moving overhead will help storms develop, while a boundary near the area separates humid air to the east from much drier air to the west.

Where that boundary ends up this afternoon will make a big difference in how intense the storms become. Areas farther east could see much stronger storms if the more humid air pushes westward. In that case, a few storms may produce large hail, damaging wind gusts around 70 mph, and even a small chance for an isolated tornado.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream or watch below.

A long-awaited murder trial slated to start this week on Colorados eastern plains is now on hold due to newly discovered evidence.

Jury selection began Monday in the murder trial of Clifton Boggess and was slated for three days. But on Tuesday, the trial was abruptly continued. A court official told Denver7 Investigates that a new trial date would be selected by May 28.

Yuma County District Attorney Travis Sides said the delay was due to new evidence, but could not share any more information.

Denver7 Investigates has reported on the case for more than a year. Boggess, 63, is facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder connected with the death of 25-year-old Britani Meek.

Meek was reported missing in October 2023. Law enforcement found her body roughly a month later, buried in a shallow grave on private property.

Boggess was arrested in July 2024 in Lake Placid, Florida.

Denver7 Investigates found that Boggess has a violent past. He was convicted of multiple felonies in Florida after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a car and shooting her in the head when she tried to run from him in 1997. That woman survived.

Boggess is also a person of interest in the disappearance of Heather Riggio, according to a cold case detective in Florida. Riggio has been missing since 2007.

DENVER A suspect in a road rage incident near Fort Lupton has been arrested by Weld County deputies, a spokesperson for the department said Tuesday.

The investigation into 37-year-old Evan Traxler bean after deputies were dispatched to a disturbance call just before 9:30 p.m. along Meadowlark Road in southeast Fort Lupton.

At the scene, witnesses reported that Traxler threw items at the victims vehicle and struck the victims rear bumper with his own, causing damage, according to a news release.

A short time later, another deputy found a GMC Yukon that resembled the description of Traxlers vehicle near the area where it was last seen traveling. A deputy who followed the vehicle noticed Traxler was unable to maintain his lane of travel and the deputy conducted a traffic stop, the release states.

While speaking with the suspect, the responding deputy suspected Traxler may be impaired. An investigation was subsequently started and deputies developed probable cause to arrest Traxler on several charges, including:

No additional information about the case was immediately available.

DENVER A strong, late-season snowstorm has moved into northern Colorado and the Front Range Tuesday evening and will continue into Wednesday, making for a hazardous morning commute.

MORE | Denver7 weather blog

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning from midnight Tuesday through 3 p.m. Wednesday.

The NWS forecasts 5-8 inches of snow for the Interstate 25 corridor, while areas closer to the foothills could receive up to 9 inches.

For the Eastern Plains, forecasters expect 2-6 inches of snow, a lower total than in the Front Range.

The Northern Mountains and foothills could receive as much as 2 feet of snow, with Estes Park and surrounding areas seeing early accumulation Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Southern Mountains are forecasted to get 6-14 inches.

In Denver, rain began to transition to snow around 5 p.m. And snow accumulation is expected to continue into Wednesday afternoon, according to the NWS.

Forecasters expect that from Tuesday at midnight to 9 a.m. Wednesday will see the brunt of this storm in the Denver metro area.

That midnight-to-9 a.m. stretch of snowfall should have the biggest impact, according to the NWS.

Wet, heavy snowfall poses the greatest risk for broken branches and tree damage, especially in areas with the largest accumulations, which can cause scattered power outages.

Hazardous conditions, especially for the morning commute in the Denver metro area, are expected due to heavy snowfall. The Colorado Department of Transportation is prepared for these impacts.

CDOT said there will be about 100 plows throughout the storm, focusing on clearing interstates and major roadways first before secondary roads.

Snow accumulation should end north to south by midday Wednesday, with drier weather moving in Wednesday night into Thursday.

Denver will see a high of 39 degrees with a low dropping below freezing on Wednesday. A freeze warning is likely on Wednesday night.

Thursday, we may see a shower or two, but mild springlike conditions will return.

MORE: Hourly forecast | Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

Stream live, current temperatures plus radars across Colorado anytime for free on the free Denver7+ app on your TV or watch from your computer or mobile phone anytime.

It's a Denver7 Weather Action Day as the Front Range braces for a significant late spring snowstorm in the forecast late Tuesday into Wednesday.

The storm is expected to peak late Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning. The main concern for the Denver metro area is downed tree limbs that could lead to scattered power outages due to the wet, heavy snow expected to fall starting mid to late Tuesday evening so be sure to shake your trees off before you go to bed!

Roads will likely become slick and slushy, especially during the Wednesday morning commute, so make sure to give yourself extra time before heading to work Wednesday.

We're tracking the latest updates on the forecast, traffic and impacts from the storm in the blog below.

LINKS: Closings and Delays | Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

11:01 a.m. | Denver Zoo closed | The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance will remain closed Wednesday as snow continues to fall across the Denver metro.

10:08 a.m. | Boulder off crash alert | The City of Boulder is no longer on a crash alert following Tuesday night's snowstorm.

10 a.m. | Weather update | The Denver metro area has averaged between 4 and 10 inches of snow from Tuesday night's snowstorm with the highest totals located on the south and west sides of the metro, according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Boulder.

9:04 a.m. | Trees down in Loveland | Officials in Loveland are reporting downed trees across the city, which has caused branches to fall on power lines. City officials are urging people to stay back and call 911 if they spot a downed power line.

8:57 a.m. | Xcel power line repairs | Xcel Energy said some customers saw 12 inches of snow or more overnight, causing approximately 55,000 customers to lose power. The utility said has crews working to restore power. Xcel shared the following picture of some of the snow accumulated on power lines.

8:49 a.m. | Broomfield fallen trees | There are lots of fallen and broken tree branches across Broomfield, according to the police department.

Broomfield PD shared a picture of Midway Park and advised residents to look up while walking or heading out to your car.

7:40 a.m. | Arvada delayed start | Due to power outage at City Hall, the City of Arvada said facilities will delay opening until 10 a.m.

7:38 a.m. | Xcel Energy outages | There are 28,166 Xcel Energy customers across the Front Range without power, according to the utility's outage map.

6:58 a.m. | Boulder County closure | The Boulder County government offices were put on a snow delay. They won't open until 10 a.m.

6:26 a.m. | RTD delays | The Regional Transportation District advised travelers to anticipate potential delays due to the snow.

4:12 a.m. | Check of metro roads | From Denver7 Traffic Expert Jayson Luber: "The main highways are mostly just wet with some slush here and there. But let me say, there is a lot of water out there and that is a major concern at higher speeds."

4:05 a.m. | Arapahoe County delay | County offices will be on a delayed start, opening at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

3:55 a.m. | Snow forecast for this AM | The NWS said the heaviest of snow will linger in the Denver metro through the morning hours before gradually tapering off this afternoon. The winter storm warning remains in effect until 3 p.m.

A freeze warning goes into effect for the eastern plains tonight through Thursday morning.

3:35 a.m. | Latest closings/delays | Over 120 closings and delays have been reported for Wednesday impacting schools, universities, nonprofits and local government.

Here's the complete list.

9:57 p.m. | Boulder on crash alert | The city of Boulder is on crash alert due to limited resources. A crash or accident alert means that police will not respond to minor or noninjury crashes. Drivers should exchange information and selfreport the crash later.

9:16 p.m. | Adams 14 Schools closed | Adams 14 Schools announced it will be closed Wednesday due to inclement weather conditions. All activities, athletics, and after school programs are canceled unless otherwise communicated, the district said. Full list of closures and delays

9:15 p.m. | Littleton Public Schools closed | Littleton Public Schools announced it will be closed Wednesday due to inclement weather conditions. Full list of closures and delays

8:45 p.m. | JeffCo Public Schools closed | JeffCo Public Schools announced it will be closed Wednesday due to inclement weather conditions. Full list of closures and delays

8:42 p.m. | DIA delays | Flight Aware reported more than 500 delays at Denver International Airport Tuesday as the Front Range deals with a strong, late-season snowstorm that moved in.

8:41 p.m. | Boulder Valley Schools closed | The Boulder Valley School District announced it will be closed Wednesday due to inclement weather conditions. Full list of closures and delays

8:14 p.m. | Denver city government delayed opening | City and County of Denver government agencies will be operating on a two-hour delay in scheduled start times for city employees reporting for work on-site on Wednesday due to inclement weather, the city announced. Full list of closures and delays

8:11 p.m. | CSU closed | Colorado State University announced it will be closed Wednesday.All in-person, hybrid and remote classes and operations (meetings, work functions) are closed or canceled for all Larimer County campuses, CSU said. Full list of closures and delays

8:06 p.m. | DCSD closed | The Douglas County School District announced it will be closed Wednesday due to inclement weather conditions. Full list of closures and delays

7:39 p.m. | CU Boulder closed | CU Boulder said its campus will be closed Wednesday due to a winter storm, warning staff and students to watch for falling branches and outages. Full list of closures and delays

7:28 p.m. | DPS closed | The states largest district, Denver Public Schools, joined other major districts and canceled Wednesday classes due to severe weather. This closure includes the Emily Griffith Technical College and all school-related events and activities, the district said. Full list of closures and delays

7:14 p.m. | Weld RE-4 closed | Due to weather conditions, Weld RE-4 announced all schools will be closed Wednesday. Full list of closures and delays

7:05 p.m. | APD closed | Due to weather conditions, Aurora Public Schools and Pickens Technical College announced all schools will be closed Wednesday. The district advises staff and students to stay home for safety reasons. Full list of closures and delays

5:30 p.m. | Heavy snow begins to fall in Denver| Snow has begun to fall across Denver, and more flakes are to come through the rest of the day and into the overnight hours.

The NWS is forecasting 5-8 inches of snow for the I-25 Corridor by Wednesday afternoon, while areas closer to the foothills could receive up to 9 inches.

A stretch from about Tuesday midnight to 9 a.m. Wednesday should have the biggest impact for the Denver metro, according to the NWS.

Wet, heavy snowfall poses the greatest risk for broken branches and tree damage, especially in areas with the largest accumulations, which could cause scattered power outages.

Hazardous conditions, especially for the morning commute in the Denver metro area, are expected due to heavy snowfall. The Colorado Department of Transportation and the City of Denver are prepared for those impacts.

Read the latest forecast here.

4:46 p.m. | Elbert County delays | All Elbert County government offices will be on a two-hour delayed schedule Wednesday, May 6, county officials said via social media Tuesday.

4:33 p.m. | Denver weather update | The City of Denver says its snow plow drivers are on duty and will be monitoring the main streets. Given the heavy, wet snow expected in the area, city officials provided the following tips for residents:

4:23 p.m. | Littleton delays | All City of Littleton facilities, including Littleton Center, Bemis Public Library, the Littleton Museum, and Littleton Municipal Court will open at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6, city officials announced Tuesday.

4:06 p.m. | Closings | The Oval on CSU's Main Campus will close at 6 p.m. due to wet, heavy snow on tree branches. Barricades will be placed, and the area will remain closed tomorrow, university officials announced via social media. Students are advised to avoid entering the Oval area and follow all posted signs and barricades.

3:45 p.m. | Weather update | On-and-off rain showers continue for the Denver metro, but that's about to change in a few hours when a storm system moving from the north arrives to our area, bringing potentially between 4-5 inches of fresh powder by Wednesday afternoon, according to meteorologists from the National Weather Service.

During a briefing earlier Tuesday, Kenley Bonner, a meteorologist for the NWS office in Boulder, told news media the main concern from this storm is the heavy, wet snow that could lead to downed tree limbs and scattered power outages across the Front Range.

She said that while the northern mountains in Boulder and Larimer counties will encounter difficult travel conditions, some uncertainty still remained on the impacts to the roadways along the I-25 Corridor and other lower elevations.

Check out the latest timing for heaviest snowfall across Colorado in the table below:

Bonner said a freeze warning will also be in effect for a period of about 12 hours starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday for all of the plains and the I-25 Corridor in northeast and east central Colorado.

12:29 p.m. | School closures | Classes are canceled at Red Feather Lakes Elementary, Stove Prairie Elementary, and Livermore Elementary as wintry conditions "may make it unsafe to provide student transportation on mountain routes," officials with the Poudre School District said in a letter to parents and staff earlier Tuesday.

10:50 a.m. | Cold weather shelters | The City and County of Denver announced shelters would be available beginning, Tuesday at 6 p.m. through Thursday at 11 a.m. in preparation for the incoming snowstorm and cold weather.

They include:

10:15 a.m. | Rockies game rescheduled | The Colorado Rockies said the team's game against the New York Mets was postponed to Thursday at 1:10 p.m. It was originally scheduled for Tuesday at 6:40 p.m.

The start time for Wednesday's game will be pushed back from 1:10 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. that same day.

Fans who purchased tickets for either game will be notified via email.

4:30 a.m. | Morning forecast | The Denver metro area is expecting between 4 and 8 inches of snow south of the I-70 mountain corridor and up to 12 inches possible near the foothills and across the Palmer Divide late Tuesday into early Wednesday.

A winter storm warning is in effect from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 3 p.m. Wednesday for Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Castle Rock and surrounding areas, including the western suburbs.

9:11 p.m. | Red Rocks concert cancellation | Red Rocks Ampitheatre announced the Bright Eyes concert originally scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, will be postponed until Tuesday, May 12.

The concert venue said it will honor previously purchased tickets for the new date.

"May 12 was the only available option this year. It may not be ideal, but wed much rather get to play this incredible venue a few days later than cancel outright. If you cant make it next week, you will be missed," Bright Eyes said on Facebook.

4:30 p.m. | Avs Alley closed for Tuesday's game | The outdoor fan viewing area that Ball Arena set up to for the Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Playoffs games will be closed for Tuesday's Game 2 against the Minnesota Wild, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment said. The franchise owners said the decision was made due to the forecasted inclement weather to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream.

LAS ANIMAS COUNTY, Colo. The Poitrey Canyon Fire burning in Las Animas County has burned more than 2,100 acres as of Monday morning, and remains 0% contained.

The fire is near Poitrey Canyon, which is about 45 miles south of La Junta.

High winds on Sunday "tested the east side," but firefighters were able to prevent the flames from moving forward, according to an update from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control (DFPC). Pockets within the burn area are continuing to burn. Growth was limited to the fire's northwestern ridge, which is in rugged terrain, the agency said.

The DFPC said overnight rain should help the firefighters with containment efforts on Monday.

A multi-mission aircraft mapped the burn area at 2,113 acres, which is the most recent estimate on the fire's size.

According to the Town of Kim, the fire was started by individuals "doing some grinding work" on April 24.

Within about 24 hours, the fire had grown to 1,996 acres.

On Saturday, Gov. Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency in response to this fire.

This activates the State Emergency Operations Plan and directs the Department of Public Safety and its Divisions of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Fire Prevention and Control "to take responsibility for all response, recovery, and mitigation efforts on the Poitrey Canyon Fire," according to a press release from the state.

KARVAL, Colo. Most people may not know what a Mountain Plover is or looks like, but for one community on the eastern plains, they have created an entire festival around the bird and are educating people about its importance.

Looking out on the "Welcome to Karval" sign, you will not find a gas station or any hotels in sight. This unincorporated community in Lincoln County has a population in the five-hundreds, serving as a community where everyone knows everyone. Dan Mereweher moved to Karval as his wife grew up there and they knew it was a "great place to raise a family."

WATCH: Learn more about how a small bird became so ingrained in the community that they made a festival for it.

Debbie Kravig has called the area home since 1998. Her grandparents homesteaded there, her mother was raised there, and it was where she would raise her family.

"Well, when you grow up here, you're always around cattle and horses, and it's just where you belong," said Kravig. "It's what you know."

This unincorporated community is not off a major road, and you could miss the signs for it on Colorado State Highway 71. There is also another route you could take with State Road 94 leading you to County Road 29.

The last weekend of April typically is a busy one for this community, as it is the school's prom, but also the Mountain Plover Festival. Merewether said the "population swells to almost twice its normal size," as birders travel from near and far to experience the weekend of birdwatching and join in the local lifestyle.

"Plover festival started about 20 years ago now, although for a couple of years weve been snowed out. It doesnt look like that is a danger this year," Merewether said.

The closest motels are in Hugo and Limon, so this community embraces a true neighbor-helping-neighbor spirit, opening up their home to experience the local way of life.

Kravig said she usually has between four to five people stay with her, but that it varies from year to year.

"We just open up our homes, several people open up their homes, gracious about it, and their spare bedrooms or whatever, and we just find places for people to stay, and they don't get much sleep anyway," said Kravig. "So, even if it's a couch, it works out because they eat all the meals in the community building."

Registration is still open, where tickets can be purchased online for either Friday or Saturday, or both days.

Merewether shared a story about the mountain plovers first being spotted in this area, which involved a man named Russell Davis. Davis spotted a wildlife biologist on his property looking at the bird, who thought this species should be on the endangered species list.

A study prepared for the Bureau of Land Management by researchers Lee Grunau and Mike Wunder from Colorado State University's Natural Heritage Program cited the mountain plover declined by an estimated 63% from 1966 to 1996, which was "greater than declines shown in any other grassland endemic."

During the interaction with Davis and this biologist, there was a realization that these birds could thrive in this area, and ranchers could learn more about the species.

"There were some concerns about whether they should be put on the endangered species list, but we decided as a community that we would support them and that there was a way for us to conserve them without putting them on the threatened endangered species list," said Merewether. "We can do the things that we need to do as farmers and ranchers and still support the mountain plover population, and of course, it's a boon to us as a community."

While looking through his binoculars, Merewether laughed as he explained that mountain plovers are actually far from the mountains, preferring the prairie instead. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, these birds breed in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and the Texas Panhandle.

Merewether said the birds will lay their eggs in Karval in sets of three, and nesting season, which coincides with the festival, is typically the best time to spot them.

"It sets us apart from other communities, and a lot of the people associate Karval with the mountain plover, which is nice," Merewether said.

While this weekend will bring in a boost of birders, it's also a testament to this community's big heart for a small bird.

"It represents the prairie, the sunsets where we live theres good sunsets and the prairie grasses, and the plover bird is a very good representation of the prairies and where we all come from," Kravig said.

YUMA COUNTY, Colo. Authorities in Yuma County are asking if anybody saw a suspicious person in the area of a wildfire that began burning south of Eckley on Wednesday afternoon.

The Yuma County Office of Emergency Management and sheriff's office said the "large" and "fast-moving" fire started near County Road 26 and County Road T. This is about 46 miles north of Burlington. As of 5 p.m., it has been knocked down, meaning it is under control.

The fire burned mostly pastures, but no structures. There is no size estimate available yet.

Residents in the area should stay alert and monitor conditions closely. If anybody sees a fire near their home, evacuate immediately.

In a post online, the Yuma County Sheriff's Office asked the public if anybody had seen a person acting suspiciously around 2 p.m. in the area of the fire. If you have information, contact them at 970-332-4805.

Yuma County, as well as the much of Colorado's eastern plains, is under a red flag warning until midnight. Winds are blowing 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph, according to the National Weather Service out of Goodland, Kansas. Another red flag warning will go until place Thursday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. for the same area.

"Any fires that develop may rapidly grow and spread out of control," the NWS reported.

The Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control said it has ordered a multi-mission aircraft and two single-engine air tankers.

El Paso County Parks Department employees are preparing for the upcoming visitor season at the Paint Mines in Calhan.

Ross Williams and Ashlyn Mathy work for the department and are amazed by what they see on their hikes into the park.

"There are few places in Colorado where you'd see this," Williams said.

The destination stands out on Colorado's eastern plains.

"Basically, this is where the dinosaurs died," Williams said.

Williams calls the area the end of the boulevard.

"The whole pit in here is the amphitheater," Williams said.

"Ross is a wealth of knowledge," Mathy said.

Colorado is celebrating its 150th birthday, but the Paint Mines have been celebrated for much longer.

"Humans have been in this area approximately 12,000 years," Williams said.

The park recently hired interpretive staff to help guide visitors.

"We just started our interpretive staff, they are starting today and they will be here every Friday, Saturday and Sunday," Emily Holmes, the Recreation Program Supervisor, told Denver7.

Williams and Mathy are showing the new staff around before the visitor season starts. The park is also utilizing a trail counter.

"This post is our trail counter," Mathy said.

Mathy will be counting the visitors to gather data for the park.

"What we're able to do with this as far as how we benefit the community and how we can help our community more, is the endless amount of information we're going to receive over the next summer," Mathy said.

Watch Mike Castellucci's report in the player below:

The employees continue to be captivated by the park's environment.

"The sun shining just right lighting just this area is amazing," Williams said.

"You feel like you're somewhere else, takes you to an almost magical place," Mathy said.

Since he was a child, Williams has loved rocks, and now as an adult, he gets to work in them every day.

"Yes I love coming to work every day," Williams said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

DENVER A fifth person in Weld County has tested positive for measles, state health officials said Tuesday, as they warned Coloradans of possible exposures to the highly transmissible virus at two health care centers in Larimer County this week.

The latest case was confirmed in an unvaccinated adult who is a close contact of previous cases within the county, according to a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment spokesperson. The patient along with three other previous cases reported by the CDPHE over the past several weeks is not believed to be tied to an ongoing outbreak in Broomfield.

But in an email to Denver7 Wednesday, CDPHE officials confirmed that four of the five cases in the county are linked, which means Colorado is now dealing with a second outbreak of the virus across the state.

State health officials said this latest patient could have exposed people at the UCHealth Primary Care clinic in Johnstown, located at 4846 Larimer Parkway on Monday, April 13, between 3:15 p.m. 5:20 p.m.; and at the Banner Fort Collins Medical Center Emergency, located at 4700 Lady Moon Drive, between 3:35 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. on that same date.

Anyone who believes they may have been exposed especially those who have not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine should monitor for symptoms for 21 days and avoid public gatherings or high-risk settings, health officials said in a news release.

State health officials said those who were potentially exposed in connection with this latest case may develop symptoms through Monday, May 4.

Symptoms to watch out for include anything from a fever, a cough, a runny nose, and red, watery eyes that develop into a rash that starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body about three to five days after symptoms first start. A person with measles is contagious four days before and four days after the rash appears.

State health official surge people who develop symptoms to call the CDPHE at 720-653-3369 or their local public health agency immediately by phone before trying to seek treatment to avoid other people from becoming potentially infected with the virus. the CDPHE urges people to call an urgent care center or emergency department and explain that you may have been exposed to measles if you do not have a health care provider.

While most people recover within two or three weeks after contracting the virus, unvaccinated people run the risk of complications from the disease, including ear infections, seizures, pneumonia, immune amnesia, brain damage and ultimately, death.

Denver7 has been closely following confirmed measles cases in Colorado amid a multi-state outbreak in the U.S. that began last year. Explore the map by clicking here or check it out below to see where cases have popped up in 2026:

Measles only spreads from people who show symptoms; it does not spread from people who arent feeling sick, state health officials said.

Unvaccinated people exposed to the virus can get the MMR vaccine 72 hours after exposure (but before symptoms are present) to prevent an infection, according to health officials. If vaccination is not possible, antibody treatment can help in some cases if its given within six days of exposure, state health officials said.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community, the CDPHE spokesperson said.

While the two-dose series of the MMR vaccine has a 97% efficacy rate against infection, about 3 in every 100 people can still get infected if exposed to the virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccinated individuals will usually develop milder symptoms and are less likely to spread it to others, according to state health officials.

People who got vaccinated against measles before 1968 should talk to their health care provider about possibly getting a booster as the vaccine used before that year wasn't as effective.

As of Tuesday, Colorado has reported cases of the virus in Adams (5), Arapahoe (1), Broomfield (4), Saguache (1), and Weld (5) counties, according to statewide data.

Weld County is now tied with Adams County when it comes to the greatest number of cases so far this year. More concerning, however, is that with this latest Weld County case, the states measles tally now stands at 16 a number that Colorado did not reach until late July last year, which suggests that the state is in for another rough measles year in 2026.

Last year, amid a multi-state outbreak of the virus across the country, Colorado reported 36 measles cases. Up until 2014, Colorado saw between zero and two cases each year.

Across the country, the number of confirmed measles infections so far this year has now surpassed 1,700, which represents about 75% of all measles cases the U.S. reported in all of 2025.

Editor's note on April 15 at 2:14 p.m.:

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WIGGINS, Colo. Drought conditions are worsening in eastern Colorado, leaving farmers in a dire situation as some crops dry out and turn yellow unseasonably early.

Colorado State Climatologist Russ Schumacher told Denver7 the situation is concerning despite some moisture in the forecast for the next couple of days.

"The drought conditions continue to worsen in eastern Colorado," Schumacher said.

WATCH: Eastern Colorado farmers face dire crop conditions as drought worsens

Kreg Vollmer, a corn, alfalfa, wheat, and sugar beet farmer in Fort Morgan and board member for the Colorado Farm Bureau, said the lack of moisture is deeply concerning. From afar, his fields of winter wheat may look fine, but a closer look reveals major problems

"If you look closely on the underside of almost every single one of these wheat plants, it is dried out completely," Vollmer said. "As you look across it, it's already starting to yellow, which is something that's pretty uncommon for this time of year."

The latest drought map, released Thursday, shows conditions look slightly better in some parts of the state compared to last week. However, farmers are constantly monitoring the maps.

"We're constantly looking at these drought maps," Vollmer told Denver7's Veronica Acosta.

While there is some moisture in the forecast, Vollmer said it is not enough for him, other farmers, or their crops.

"At this point, most guys have realized that no matter how much rain we actually get, it's not really going to move the needle," Vollmer said. "We basically need so much rain that it would cause a flood incident."

The lack of water directly impacts the financial livelihood of the farmers.

"If we don't have the water for the crops, we don't have the money to pay for everything for the farm," Vollmer said.

The situation relies entirely on significant rainfall.

"To get out of the drought completely, it would be a lot, but anything helps at this point, it's much better to have regular precipitation than not," Schumacher said. "For eastern Colorado, we need rain at this point."

How are the drought and potential water restrictions affecting your daily life, your neighborhood, or your livelihood? Share your experiences, concerns, and questions with a Denver7 reporter by email newstips@denver7.com. Your story could be part of our ongoing coverage as we track the impacts across our communities.

If you're searching for how your Colorado community is responding, or what restrictions are in place where you live, Denver7 is updating that information in this link.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

DENVER After removing more than 130 traffic cameras around the state last summer, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has started a project to install new, state-managed cameras, including several in remote areas.

In September 2025, Denver7 began hearing from residents about the missing cameras, and reached out to CDOT to learn more about the issue. Charles Marsh, CDOT's northwest regional communications manager, explained that the department's contract with a third-party vendor expired in July 2025. The vendor operated 136 traffic cameras.

Read our previous in-depth story on this development below.

Ultimately, instead of working with another third party, CDOT decided to build and operate its own permanent, state-owned and state-managed camera system a process that was already underway back in September, Marsh told Denver7. That would start with replacing 66 of the original 136 cameras, he said, adding that the number was limited due to budget and infrastructure limitations.

In CDOT's press release Friday, it noted that only about 90 cameras were removed last summer. Denver7 is working to confirm which number is correct. We will update this story once we do.

Several of the new 66 cameras will go up in remote areas where people rely on them to view highway conditions, CDOT said. The department listened to public feedback when identifying where to place the new permanent cameras.

In the meantime, CDOT acknowledged that "coverage was critical" in some places, and travelers and residents needed a temporary fix. As a short-term and cost-effective solution, the department decided to position solar-powered cameras on existing infrastructure or portable trailers. That included Highway 40 on Berthoud Pass, Highway 40 on Rabbit Ears Pass, Highway 14 on Cameron Pass, Highway 133 on McClure Pass and the Nordic Center on Highway 65 in Mesa County.

In September, Denver7 received an email from one resident who was particularly concerned about the lack of cameras on Cameron Pass, which now has a temporary camera setup: "These are (or were) vital cameras near Cameron Pass, especially people who commute or work, using this major highway... Driving in the mountains can be dangerous, especially in the winter, and these cameras help us to know before we go."

In a press release issued on Friday, CDOT said it had started the installation project on Monday in south-central Colorado, specifically at the intersection of Highway 24 and Highway 285 at Antero Junction, as well as Highway 24 near Manitou Springs and Highway 67 near Cripple Creek.

Drivers won't feel major impacts from this, as most of the work will happen off of the roadway.

The 66 state-owned cameras are expected to be ready and live by fall 2027.

CDOT released the below map, which outlines where the new cameras will be installed. Click here to view the map in a new window.

However, travelers looking for insight on conditions on the roadways can still check COtrip.org by using the Road Conditions layer.

To find the Road Conditions layer on the map, go to COTrip.org, find the map, and locate the layers menu on the right side. Below is a screenshot of where to find this information.

All thats left of the Two Buttes Reservoir is a scattering of lifeless buoys, a rusty lawn chair, empty beer cans, and a number of fishing lures that have fallen into the water over the years.

But now, the water is gone. The reservoir completely dried up. And with that, signs of recreation that no longer exist stick out of the dry bed. An empty crater of dirt. At least for the time being.

So, where we're standing right now is just... 50 feet from the end of the boat ramp, said Jim Ramsay, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) aquatic biologist for the region. And we're in the dry lake bed. Normally we would be in about probably 25 feet of water right here if the lake was full.

Two Buttes Reservoir, and its accompanying state wildlife habitat area, sits in the extreme southeast corner of Colorado between Lamar and Springfield. Its aptly named after a nearby geographic feature.

The 700-acre body of water is typically a recreational oasis in the plains, with ample fishing opportunities and boating. The prairie reservoir served as a refuge for the region.

Down here in southeast Colorado, there aren't very many places to go fishing, boating, and recreating. So, when this lake fills up, it's a big deal for the local communities, Ramsay said.

Two Buttes doesnt serve as a local water supply, but its impact is felt far and wide, Ramsay added.

It's a great perk for the local economy, and it really boosts the area to have visitation from the Front Range and from Oklahoma and Kansas. People come from a long way to recreate here at Two Buttes Reservoir, he said.

In his 20 years as an aquatic biologist for the area, Ramsay said hes seen the reservoir dry out three times by his recollection. Its not necessarily uncommon, but the extended drought in the region was exacerbated by Colorados record warm winter and record low snowpack.

Two Buttes is fed by an intermittent stream that flows in after large storm events. Ramsay said the drainage is narrow, so the storms have to hit the drainage perfectly and put down enough precipitation to flow down.

In 2013, Ramsay said the reservoir was bone dry and filled up to 30 feet within a week thanks to some big storms and flooding. That water lasted about eight years before the next dry up.

The most recent big storm to fill Two Buttes came three or four years ago, he said.

If we could get a fresh storm every year that would just run water in here, we could keep this lake going, said Ramsay. But unfortunately, we're at the mercy of Mother Nature when it comes to that.

In late October, CPW issued an emergency fish salvage for Two Buttes due to the declining water levels and the unlikelihood of significant rainfall.

A salvage order comes when the lake is in imminent danger of going dry or becoming too low to support a fishery. That means the game fish in the reservoir are in peril of dying with no water. The salvage order allows anglers to take the fish with relaxed restrictions and regulations on fishing.

That salvage order ended last week, no longer needed since theres no longer any water.

If and when Two Buttes fills again, Ramsay said it can quickly become one of the best warmwater fisheries in Colorado. It has produced strong populations of largemouth bass, wipers, saugeye, channel catfish, bluegill, and crappie.

Strangely enough (a sign of the unique geography of the area), just a stones throw away from Two Butteson the other side of the earthen dam of its eastern edgethe Black Hole Pond still holds good water levels and is providing fishing opportunities.

A fisherman was driving through from Oklahoma to Aurora and stopped by to try his luck in Black Hole Pond. But while casting his lure, he questioned what happened to Two Buttes. The area had been recommended to him to break during his road trip.

Meantime, though Two Buttes could quickly fill up with some good storms in the near future, CPW isnt wasting the land during the period of uncertainty.

Recently, CPW had a plane fly over the dry lake bed to drop seeds.

In absence of water, we can grow some grasses and forbs and some vegetation that benefits the terrestrial wildlife that inhabit the area, Ramsay said. The deer, the pheasants, the quail all can use the plants that grow up in the dry lake bed.

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It's a Denver7 Weather Action Day as record-breaking heat is expected to peak Saturday across the Denver area, with temperatures climbing into the upper 80s and potentially reaching 90 degrees.

Denver tied the warmest March temperature on record Friday at 85 degrees, and we broke that record today at 86 degrees as of 4:13 p.m on Saturday. The historic highs coupled with drought conditions are making for elevated fire danger across the state, with public safety officials warning that any spark is dangerous. Several large fires are already burning in the state, and red flag warnings are taking effect.

The Denver7 news team is tracking the latest weather impacts and alerts in the Colorado weather blog below. Refresh this page for updates.

LINKS: Closings and Delays | Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

5:37 | Custer County Fire | A grass fire is burning near Haven Road south of Lake DeWeese and just east of Lake DeWeese Road, Custer County sheriff's office officials said. Crews are responding.

4:56 p.m. | Adams County Fire | South Adams County Fire Department said it responded to a large grass fire near the intersection of 48th Avenue and Monaco earlier in the day that is now under control.

4:26 p.m. | Lone Tree Fire | The fire is now under control, per fire officials. It burned about 20 acres.

4:15 p.m. | New High Record | Temperatures at DIA have reached 86 degrees, the highest ever temperature recorded in March for the Mile High. That marks the third straight record-breaking day for Denver, with the last two days reaching 85 degrees. The previous record for today was 78 degrees, and the official high temperature from the day could still climb higher, according to Denver7 meteorologist Stacey Donaldson.

4:02 p.m. | 24 Fire | Smoke from the 24 Fire has increased rapidly, but Colorado Springs Fire Department said in a post "there is no immediate threat to our community." Still, the department urged community members to stay aware, review evacuation plans, and have a go bag ready. The fire is currently at 1,126 acres and 0% containment, the Fremont County Sheriff's Office said at 3:33 p.m.

Officials with the Fremont County Sheriff's Office said earlier in the day that "control lines held well throughout the night" and that acreage of the burn area hadn't increased significantly. There had been no reported injuries or damage to homes and businesses as of 10:31 a.m. Officials said at 3:33 p.m. that fire activity had picked up due to high winds and hot temperatures.

3:41 p.m. | Lone Tree Brush Fire | No structures are threatened, but westbound Ridgegate Parkway is closed near Meridian Village Parkway, South Metro Fire Rescue said. More updates here.

3:35 p.m. | Lone Tree Brush Fire | Crews are responding to a brush fire near South Peoria Street and Ridgegate Parkway in Lone Tree, South Metro Fire Rescue said.

3:31 p.m. | Fort Lupton Fire | Fort Lupton Fire Protection District said crews responded to a small fire earlier in the day that burned about 6 acres. Officials say two large trees could continue to smolder and flames could be visible throughout the night. Fire crews are remaining on scene, officials said.

2:00 p.m. | Red Flag Warning | A red flag warning is now in effect through 10 p.m. for the I-25 corridor, palmer divide and northeastern plains along I-76, joining the foothills and mountain valleys which have been under a red flag warning since 11 a.m. this morning.

1:52 | Power Outages | More than 1,000 Core Electric customers are without power in Clear Creek and Jefferson counties, the utility said in a post on X. "Crews are assessing and will work as quickly as possible to restore service," the post said.

1:48 p.m. | CORE Electric | Core Electric said alternate relay settings  which make power lines more sensitive  are in effect in all of its operating districts due to red flag warnings.

"These protocols help mitigate the risk of ignition, but can cause longer outages," the utility's website states.

12:36 p.m. | 24 Fire | Colorado Springs Fire Protection District said its crews were performing holding and ignition operations using fire to contain the burn area.

11: 24 a.m. | Red Flag Warnings | Some areas of the state are now under a red flag warning as of 11 a.m. that extends through 11 p.m. Red flag warnings go into effect later today in other areas of the state.

"Gusty winds and very low humidity values will bring a day of critical fire weather conditions to much of the region. With record high temperatures and dry fuels, any fires will grow rapidly. Avoid activities that could start a wildfire!" NWS Pueblo wrote in a post.

11:16 a.m. | Chama Canyon Fire | The fire burning in Costilla County is 50% contained and is currently at 141 acres, officials with Costilla County Office of Emergency Management said in a post Saturday morning. Read more here.

11:00 a.m. | State Line Fire | The Livermore Fire Protection District in Northern Colorado said early Saturday morning it was battling a fire half a mile west of U.S. 287 near the Wyoming state line. Officials said at 10:15 am. the fire was holding at 2 acres.

10:42 a.m. | 24 Fire | The Fremont County Sheriff's Office "heavy air firefighting operations" were resuming on the thousand-acre fire that broke out Wednesday. Evacuations remain in place within 2 miles of County Road F45 and State Highway 115, and an evacuation center is available Pathfinder Park in Florence. Read more on the fire here.

10:39 a.m. | High Temps| We're set to see historic highs today, with predicted temperatures spiking in the 90s in some areas.

10:27 a.m. | Red Flag Warnings | A red flag warning for much of the state is set to take effect at 2 p.m. and stay in place through 10 p.m. Saturday.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream.

ROCKY FORD, Colo. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is working with police in Rocky Ford after a suspected domestic violence-related shooting left one person dead and another seriously injured.

Around 2:44 a.m. on Friday, officers with the Rocky Ford Police Department responded to a report of a shooting along the 500 block of N. 5th Street, CBI said.

The officers found a 46-year-old man with a fatal gunshot wound at the scene. They also found a 42-year-old woman with serious injuries. She was transported to Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center.

CBI said it suspects this was a domestic violence-related situation.

This incident remains under investigation. No other details are available.

CBI is assisting the Rocky Ford Police Department with this case.

Rocky Ford, in Otero County, is a small community about 50 miles east of Pueblo.

Warm, dry and extremely windy conditions on Saturday have increased the risk of fire spread across much of the eastern half of Colorado, including the urban corridor.

Gusts are expected to reach between 60-70 mph Saturday afternoon before the winds die down and a cold front moves in. A map of Saturday's red flag warning is below.

Denver7 is tracking the latest on Saturday's wind speeds, damage and other impacts to Coloradans in our live weather blog below.

LINKS: Closings and Delays | Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

8:05 p.m. | Power outage update | Here is the current standing for power outages:

6:59 p.m. | Small grassfire update | West Metro Fire says the fire is under control and is mopping it up. It burned about two acres.

6:48 p.m. | Small grassfire | West Metro Fire says it is responding to a small grass fire involving several trees off I-70 near Harlan Street. There is heavy smoke over I-70 in that area.

6:15 p.m. | Weather update | The NWS said winds "have been slow" to leave the foothills this afternoon, but are moving east into the lower elevations of Boulder and Jefferson counties.

A wind gust around 82 mph was recorded at the NCAR Mesa lab in Boulder.

The strongest wind for these locations is expected between 8-9 p.m. Saturday.

5:14 p.m. | Xcel Energy updates | Xcel Energy is prepping hundreds of crew members to inspect power lines and restore power following today's strong winds.

Outages for some customers may extend through the weekend, the company said.

Extreme fire weather conditions are expected to continue this evening. Power outages are still possible.

4:28 p.m. | Latest from National Weather Service | Critical fire weather will continue into the evening on the plains. A cold front will arrive near midnight.

Snow in the mountains will lead to difficult travel conditions through Sunday morning.

2:17 p.m. | Resources in Boulder | A resource center is available for Xcel Energy customers impacted by the power shutoffs today. It is set up at the North Boulder Recreation Center at 3170 Broadway in Boulder. It will stay open until 6 p.m.

The center will have water, snacks, and charging equipment.

The following charging stations are also available around Boulder County:

2:15 p.m. | United Power outages | United Power says it has 167 outages right now, impacting about 4,000 customers.

12:05 p.m. | Update from National Weather Service | The NWS is reiterating its warning about strong winds up to 70 mph for the base of the foothills between 2-5 p.m. Saturday.

11:14 a.m. | Xcel Energy will implement PSPS | The company said it will implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff starting around 2 p.m. Saturday. It will impact 18,000 customers in Boulder (14,408 customers) and Jefferson (3,403 customers) counties, the company said in a press release.

"Please note, due to anticipated high winds, outages could take place outside of areas impacted by a PSPS, impacting restoration times," Xcel Energy said. "Restoring outages from a significant weather event or PSPS may take several hours to several days. This is because crews must inspect power lines and repair damage before they can be safely re-energized."

Xcel Energy had announced Friday that a PSPS was likely on Saturday.

To see if you will be impacted by Xcel Energy's PSPS, click here and enter your address.

10:27 a.m. | Highway 93 closure | The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office will close Highway 93 between 64th Avenue and Highway 72 around 2 p.m. Saturday due to expected high winds.

10:18 a.m. | Estes Park power outage | The Town of Estes Park said its crews are responding to a "large power outage." The exact number of customers without power was not available, but the town released the below map showing the outage area.

10:16 a.m. | CORE Cooperative update | CORE has no public safety power shutoff events planned for Saturday. However, alternate relay settings, or ARS, are engaged for most of its service area.

ARS react to any fault, like a tree falling on a line, and will limit the line to one attempt to restore. If the fault is still present, it will cut the power to that line. Learn more about it here.

The company said crews are currently on standby.

9:17 a.m. | Xcel Energy update for Golden | Xcel Energy has updated their map for their Public Safety Power Shutoff, or PSPS. Based on the map, Golden is no longer included in the potential shutoff area. However, strong winds are still expected and outages may still occur.

7 a.m. | Denver7 forecast | Denver7's Clara Faith reports that dangerous fire weather conditions are expected across eastern Colorado before a sharp cold front moves late Saturday night into Sunday morning. Much of the eastern half of the state is under a red flag warning.

A red flag warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday across the Denver metro area, the urban corridor, and much of the eastern plains. Winds are expected to blow between 20 and 35 mph, with gusts up to 70 mph.

By Saturday evening, a strong cold front will move south through the state, bringing a major change in conditions.

Read the rest of her forecast for the weekend here, or watch it in the video below

5:33 a.m. | Update from National Weather Service | The NWS out of Boulder says Saturday will bring widespread critical fire weather for lower elevations, with elevated concerns in high mountain valleys. Gusts will reach 40 to 60 mph, with the strongest ones near the base of the foothills. Gusts may reach up to 70 mph between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. there.

Tonight, a cold front will move in, bringing sub-freezing temperatures and strong winds and light snow to lower elevations. The mountains may see heavy snow and whiteout conditions Saturday evening.

Temperatures bounce back up Monday we could even see record-breaking highs during the week.

5 a.m. | Closed trails | All Boulder County Parks & Open Space trails and open space areas west of Highway 36 are closed on Saturday due to high wind and extreme fire danger.

Denver7's Claire Lavezzorio spoke with authorities who explained how they had reached that decision.

Watch her report on their warning from Friday evening in the video below.

The office also posted online saying residents should "expect dangerous winds, extreme fire risk, and likely power outages. Prepare for possible outages up to 48 hrs. Charge devices, secure outdoor items, avoid sparks, and sign up for emergency alerts at http://bocoalert.org."

5 a.m. | Latest from Xcel Energy | The company is warning residents about a likely Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) on Saturday along the Front Range.

As of now, this is planned for 2 p.m. and may impact about 18,000 customers in Boulder and Jefferson counties.

Conditions are expected to improve between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

To see if you could be impacted by Xcel Energy's PSPS, click here and enter your address.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream.

A high wind warning was issued for the foothills and northern Colorado Thursday for wind gusts between 80 and 100 mph. Paired with high temperatures reaching 70, a red flag warning was also issued for high fire danger across the Denver metro area and eastern half of Colorado.

The Denver7 news team is tracking the latest weather impacts and alerts in the Colorado weather blog below. Refresh this page for updates.

LINKS: Closings and Delays | Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

10:41 p.m. | DIA travelers face 1K+ delays | High winds delayed more than 1,000 flights in and out of Denver International Airport Thursday, leaving travelers stranded during one of the busiest periods of spring break travel.

One look at the flight boards made the situation clear.

"Delayed, canceled, delayed, delayed, a lot of yellow," traveler Maggie Dunn said.

On Thursday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop, which then became a ground delay.

With little to do but wait, some passengers tried to make the best of the situation.

"I'm going through some work emails, but it is kind of nice because I'm usually rushing through the airport, so I have some time to just take my time," traveler Rebecca Harr said.

10:04 p.m. | What was it like? | Veteran truck drivers are urging caution after powerful winds tipped semis across the Front Range on Thursday.

"For truck drivers facing such winds, find a safe place to wait until conditions improve," said Joe Jackson, a truck driver with over four decades of experience.

Even experienced drivers like Jackson and Nelson D'Aoust take high winds seriously.

"In high winds, I drive beside another vehicle to block the wind and prevent rollovers," said D'Aoust, who has driven more than 3 million miles.

"A tractor-trailers large mass and low center of gravity mean 40-60 mph winds can tip it, whether loaded or not," Jackson explained.

6:45 p.m. | CSU closed Friday | Wind damage was reported on the Colorado State University campus in Fort Collins, prompting officials to cancel Friday classes while they assess the damage.

4:45 p.m. | Possible planned power shutoffs Saturday | Xcel Energy officials say they may potentially shut off power for thousands of customers in Boulder and Jefferson counties on Saturday starting at around 2 p.m. due to the continued risk of high fire danger across the Front Range.

"It is possible that customers impacted by weather-related outages on Thursday, March 12, may experience additional disruption due to either a possible PSPS or high winds on Saturday, March 14," an Xcel Energy spokesperson said. "We recognize that is a significant inconvenience and we work hard to limit the time customers spend without power."

Xcel Energy is advising customers to prepare for potential outages now, "especially if you use medical equipment that requires electricity."

2:55 p.m. | Rocky Mountain National Park fire restrictions | Stafe 2 fire restrictions are now in effect with the park due to extremely high winds and fire danger. This means all campfires, including charcoal briquette fires, are not permitted anywhere within Rocky Mountain National Park. It will remain in effect until further notice.

2:09 p.m. | Evergreen wind impacts | Evergreen Fire/Rescue is reporting that trees are breaking in the strong wind gusts. It is asking residents to stay inside and off the roads.

"Beaver Brook Canyon Road and Forest Estates Road are two of the roads with significant tree fall, but not the only ones," the department posted online. "Knowing what to do in the moment can make all the difference. Staying home will help protect YOU. Education is prevention."

1:30 p.m. | Another wildfire in Larimer County | The Poudre Fire Authority is reporting a new wildfire along the 400 block of Highway 287 the same location as a fire they responded to earlier in the day. No other details are immediately available.

1:28 p.m. | CSU Larimer County campus update | All classes, meetings and activities after 3:30 p.m. at CSU are canceled for the remainder of the day due to impacts of high winds. The CSU is asking everybody to leave campus when possible and remain inside until they can leave.

1:02 p.m. | Weather update from NWS | The National Weather Service out of Boulder says critical fire weather conditions will continue today through Saturday. Mountain snow is expected to develop late Saturday with cooler temperatures extending into the lower elevations through Sunday. We could see record-breaking temperatures mid to late next week.

12:54 p.m. | Evacuations update | The mandatory evacuations for a wildfire in Larimer County have been lifted. Everybody can return to their homes.

12:42 a.m. | Xcel Energy outage updates | About 26,500 customers are still affected statewide by an Xcel Energy outage. That includes about 3,300 in Windsor.

12:39 p.m. | School closure | Poudre School District has closed their mountain schools, as well as Eyestone Elementary School.

12:34 p.m. | Road closure | Highway 1 north of Fort Collins is closed in both directions due to the nearby wildfire.

12:19 p.m. | Road closure for downed power lines | The Colorado Department of Transportation is reporting that Highway 287 northbound is closed due to safety concerns at Grape Street. Power lines are down in the area. This is in the same area as the wildfire, as outlined in the entry below.

11:56 a.m. | Evacuation for fires |

Mandatory evacuations are in place due to a fire burning along the 400 block of N. Highway 287 in Larimer County. The evacuation area includes Terry Lake Road south to Vine Drive, and Highway 287 west to North Overland Trail. The below map from Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority, or LETA, shows the evacuation boundaries. Denver7 has a crew headed to this area to learn more.

Poudre Fire Authority and Larimer County Sheriff's Office are responding to this second-alarm wildfire. Poudre Fire Authority told Denver7 they were dispatched to this fire around 11:30 a.m.

Smoke is visible in the area and is limiting disability on the highway.

Drivers are asked to find alternative routes north of Fort Collins.

11:52 a.m. | Poudre REA outage update | Poudre Valley REA reported it is experiencing sporadic outages due to high wind. In total, about 2,550 outages have been reported since this morning. Crews have been working to restore power. At 12:24 p.m. Poudre Valley REA said crews have made progress and restored service to about 150 customers.

11:47 a.m. | CSU campus closure | The Oval and Oval Drive at Colorado State University are closed due to high winds.

11:43 a.m. | Clear Creek County Schools dismissal | Clear Creek Middle School/High School and King Murphy Elementary have been dismissed early due to power outages.

11:28 a.m. | Multiple semi rollovers in Jeffco | Around 8:44 a.m., Colorado State Patrol troopers responded to a report of a semi that had rolled over on northbound Highway 93 at milepost 9. The 38-year-old driver was brought to a local hospital with unknown injuries.

Shortly after this crash, a high wind advisory was issued for this area, CSP said.

Highway 93 remains closed between Highway 128 and Highway 72.

At 9:22 a.m., CSP troopers responded to a second crash involving a rolled-over semi on eastbound I-70 at milepost 259. It blocked the entire eastbound lane and leaked about 30 gallons of fuel. Nobody was injured in this crash. Eastbound I-70 reopened around 10:04 a.m.

A third semi rollover occurred on Highway 93 and Rocky Flats Plant Road, with fluid leaking from the semi. Nobody was injured in this crash.

11:25 a.m. | Multiple overturned semis in northern Colorado | The Colorado State Patrol responded to multiple semi truck rollovers amid high wind conditions on I-25 in Weld and Larimer County.

Here's the latest from CSP's press release:

11:11 a.m. | Traffic impacts in Wyoming | Interstate 25 and Interstate 80 in Wyoming are closed to light, high-profile vehicles due to "extreme blow over risk," according to Wyoming Highway Patrol. Gusts up to 100 mph are expected.

10:49 a.m. | Xcel power outages | There are nearly 20,000 customers without power in Colorado, according to Xcel Energy's Outage Map.

10:47 a.m. | Flight delays | There are 527 flight delays in and out of Denver International Airport, according to FlightAware. Nine flights were canceled.

10:45 a.m. | DIA ground delay |Denver International Airport is expected to be on a ground delay through 8:59 p.m. Thursday due to the wind, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.

There is an approximately 111-minute delay, with departures delayed 45 minutes on average and arrivals delayed 15 minutes. However, the FAA warned that could increase.

10:41 a.m. | Downed power lines | The Boulder County Sheriff's Office is warning drivers there are downed and low hanging power lines in several locations in the foothills west of Boulder.

10:40 a.m. | Road closure | Highway 85 is now closed to all track north into Wyoming from Nunn, north of Greeley, Luber said.

10:37 a.m. | Road closure | The northbound side of Interstate 25 is closed at Mulberry outside of Fort Collins, Denver7 Traffic Expert Jayson Luber reports.

10:30 a.m. | Poudre REA outages | 275 Poudre REA customers lost power, in large part along Foothills Parkway, according to the utility's outage map.

10:28 a.m. | Top wind speeds | The National Weather Service is recording the top wind speeds across the Front Range. These are the six highest so far today.

10:18 a.m. | Road closure | Eastbound Highway 128 is closed between Highway 93 and Eldorado Boulevard, according to CDOT.

10:07 a.m. | Risk mitigation protocols | Morgan County Rural Election Association (MCREA) in the area of Fort Morgan, Colorado, has activated risk mitigation protocols. This means if there's an issue with a power line, causing it to trip or shut off, MCREA will not re-energize it until crews can inspect it for damage.

Customers may experience longer outages than usual, MCREA warned.

10:06 a.m. | DIA ground delay | Denver International Airport is on a ground delay due to high winds and severe weather, Air Traffic Control (ATC) said.

This is causing some arriving flights to be delayed an average of 1 hour and 51 minutes, according to ATC.

9:48 a.m. | CORE Electric power outages | 900 CORE Electric customers lost power in Clear Creek and Park Counties due to high winds and trees hitting power lines.

9:35 a.m. | Road closure | Interstate 25 and Interstate 80 are both effectively closed to light, high-profile vehicles due to extreme blow over risk, the Wyoming State Patrol said. That means vehicles under 80,000 pounds on I-25 and vehicles less than 60,000 pounds on I-80.

9:29 a.m. | Road closure | Eastbound Interstate 70 is closed between Lookout Mountain and Morrison Road, CDOT said. Traffic is being diverted onto Highway 40, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

9:22 a.m. | Road closure | Highway 93 is closed in both directions between Highways 72 and 128, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). A semitruck blew over on the side of the road due to high winds, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

Denver7 Traffic Expert Jayson Luber observed blowing dirt and debris, reducing visibility for drivers.

8:39 a.m. | Evergreen wildfire | A small wildfire broke out near Snyder Mountain Road and Aspen Place, according to Evergreen Fire/Rescue.

A resident called 911 when they saw smoke and possible flames, Evergreen Fire/Rescue said.

The Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office later said investigators believed the cause was a slash burn pile from over the weekend, when there was snow and the ground was moist, that reignited Thursday due to the extremely high winds.

7:47 a.m. | Road closure | Northbound Interstate 25 is closed because of a high wind restriction between Colorado State Highway 1 and the Wyoming state line, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). CMVs are being turned around, while small passenger vehicles are permitted to continue driving that direction.

7:41 a.m. | Evergreen dome collapse | The dome collapsed at the Tennis Courts at Lewis Ridge Road, according to Evergreen Fire/Rescue. Nobody was trapped and there were no injuries.

4:30 a.m. | End-of-week forecast| Starting Thursday, strong winds and very dry air will create dangerous fire weather conditions across the area.

Winds will increase through the morning and afternoon, especially near the foothills, where gusts could reach 80 to 100 mph. Other areas will still be windy, with gusts commonly between 45 and 60 mph. A High Wind Warning is in effect all day for the foothills and northern Colorado.

See Denver7 Meteorologist Stacey Donaldson's full forecast here.

6:37 p.m. | Mountain school closures | Due to the high winds, elevated fire danger and potential for power outages the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) decided to close four mountain schools for Thursday. They are:

All bus routes between mountain homes and schools, as well as before and after-school activities are also canceled, BVSD said.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream.

DENVER A powerful winter storm is rolling through Colorado bringing much-needed snow to the High Country and Front Range. Heavy mountain snow is expected and a bit of a rain/snow mix to the Interstate 25 corridor and plains, according to Denver7 meteorologist Stacey Donaldson.

The Denver7 news team is tracking the latest weather impacts and alerts in the Colorado weather blog below. Refresh this page for updates. Denver International Airport updated their snowfall reading at 6pm and they've received 7.5" of snow so far.

LINKS: Closings and Delays | Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

5:00 p.m. | Travel conditions update | Denver7 reporter Adria Iraheta is in Castle Rock hearing from drivers caught in the snow. She shares what to expect tomorrow. Watch her report in the video player below.

2:01 p.m. | Crash on I-25 | South Metro Fire Rescue says conditions on the roads have deteriorated due Friday's snowstorm, making for hazardous driving. They urged drivers to be cautions on the roads.

Please use caution and slow your speed.

2 p.m. | DIA delays, cancellations | There are 1,011 flights in and out of Denver International Airport delayed, according to FlightAware. 41 flights have been canceled.

1:12 p.m. | Weather update | The Winter Weather Advisory for the Denver metro, North Park, & Middle Park have been cancelled, as snowfall should gradually decrease this afternoon/evening, according to the NWS in Boulder. Officials said slick roads are still expected through early Saturday morning.

12:01 p.m. | Highway closure | Highway 285 from Fairplay to Grant is closed due to multiple crashes, stuck semis, and adverse weather conditions, according to the Park County Sheriff's Office.

12 p.m. | DIA delays, cancellations | There are 849 flights in and out of Denver International Airport delayed, according to FlightAware. 13 flights have been canceled.

10:31 a.m. | DIA delays, cancellations | There are 583 flights in and out of Denver International Airport delayed, according to FlightAware. 11 flights have been canceled.

8:26 a.m. | DIA deicing truck plane crash | Passengers on a United Airlines flight Friday morning at Denver International Airport were asked to get off the plane after it hit a deicing truck.

7:30 a.m. | DIA deicing | Aircraft departing from Denver International are being sprayed with deicing fluid to remove snow and ice, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

6:40 a.m. | Road closure | The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Colorado State Patrol (CSP) have closed northbound Interstate 25 into Wyoming due to blowing snow conditions up to Cheyenne, according to Denver7 Traffic Expert Jayson Luber.

6:22 a.m. | Evergreen crash | Two drivers crashed on Highway 103 near Pine Valley as they were driving on snow and ice, according to Evergreen Fire Rescue. Neither person was injured.

5:01 a.m. | Mountain school closures | Due to weather, all mountain schools will be closed Jeffco Public Schools announced Monday morning. That includes:

4:30 a.m. | Weekend forecast| We could see around 3 to 5 inches across the Denver metro area by early Friday evening. Some of the heavier totals will be on the south and west sides of town, with even more in the mountains. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect across the core of the metro area until 8 p.m.

We also have a Winter Storm Warning for the northern Front Range mountains and that remains in effect until midnight for more than a foot of snow. See Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo's full forecast here.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream.

Federal workplace safety regulators fined three businesses Tuesday over their failure to protect six Colorado dairy workers who were killed by exposure to highly toxic hydrogen sulfide gas after a manure pipe disconnected in an enclosed space.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced proposed fines totaling $246,609 against the dairy owner and two contractors working on a manure management system. The deaths of five men and a teenager on Aug. 20, 2025, shocked the rural communities in and around Keenesburg, 35 miles (55 kilometers) northeast of Denver.

Dairy owner Prospect Ranch LLC, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, faces the largest fine at $132,406 for serious violations, including failures in training, planning and protecting workers from atmospheric hazards.

Regulators also fined Colorado-based Fiske Inc. and another contractor hired to work on the system that released manure water and the hydrogen sulfide gas that led to the deaths, the government said Tuesday in a news release.

Fiske Inc.'s subsidiary High Plains Robotics services dairy equipment and employed some of those who died. Fiske faces $99,306 in penalties for failing to protect employees and provide hydrogen sulfide detection training.

A Fiske employee and a Prospect Ranch employee attempted to stop the flow but were overcome by the gas, OSHA said in the statement. Subsequently, three more Fiske employees and one Prospect Ranch employee entered the pump room, which led to the loss of a total of six workers."

The Weld County coroners office determined from autopsies and toxicology tests that the people who died were exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas, but provided little indication of the circumstances of the deaths, describing only an industrial accident in a confined space at a dairy farm.

Contractor HD Builders was cited for failing to have a written hazard communication program and provide training on detecting hydrogen sulfide, with a proposed $14,897 penalty. Company employees were present but unharmed after the pipe disconnected.

The companies have 15 days to comply with proposed penalties, request an informal conference with safety regulators or challenge the findings before an occupation safety review commission.

The hazards of confined spaces on farms and dairies are a well-known and persistent cause of death in agriculture across the U.S. often from exposure to odorless and colorless noxious gases, or due to asphyxiation in closed spaces where oxygen has been depleted.

First responders from a rural fire district in Weld County were dispatched around 6 p.m. on Aug. 20 to Prospect Ranch and took their own safety precautions as they entered a confined space.

All those who died in Colorado were Latino, ranging in age from 17 to 50. Four of them, including the teenage high school student, were from the same extended family.

Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, of Nunn, was found dead along with his 17-year-old son Oscar Espinoza Leos and a second son, 29-year-old Carlos Espinoza Prado.

The Espinozas are related by marriage to a 36-year-old from Greeley who died Jorge Sanchez Pena, according to the Weld County coroners office.

The other two men Ricardo Gomez Galvan, 40, and Noe Montaez Casaas, 32 lived in Keenesburg.

The remains of Montaez Casaas, a veterinarian who was employed under a U.S. visa, were repatriated to the central Mexican state of Hidalgo, according to the Mexican consulate in Denver.

___

Lee reported from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

DENVER Tuesday will bring another day of elevated fire danger to Colorado's Front Range and foothills as the dangerous combination of strong winds, warm temperatures and dry conditions continue this week.

The National Weather Service (NWS) out of Boulder is warning about "near critical," "critical" and "extremely critical" fire weather beginning Tuesday. Several warnings and watches are in place for Tuesday and may be extended through the end of the week.

A red flag warning, which means critical fire weather is either happening or will begin shortly, will go into effect at 10 a.m. Tuesday and last through the early evening for Denver County, Larimer County, Boulder County, Jefferson County, north and west Douglas County, Gilpin County, Clear Creek County, northeast Park County, Weld County, and west Broomfield County.

In some locations, winds are expected to range between 30 and 40 mph, with gusts reaching 80 mph, according to the NWS. Other areas will see the strongest gusts hovering around 45 mph.

Farther south, Pueblo County, Huerfano County, Las Animas County, Crowley County and Otero County will be under a similar warning between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday for winds 15 to 25 mph and gusts up to 35 mph, the NWS reported.

A high wind watch is also impacting several counties including Jackson County, Grand County and Summit County from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Denver7 Meteorologist Danielle Grant issued a Weather Action Day that will go into effect at 4 p.m. Monday so Coloradans can prepare for this high fire danger across the Front Range on Tuesday.

This fire danger may continue through Friday for the eastern plains, the NWS reported. Windy conditions in general are expected to persist Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with some gusts reaching 55 mph. The exact locations of the strongest wind gusts is not yet clear, the NWS said, though their models are indicating it will likely stay in northern Colorado.

The chance for snowfall will also return to the mountains on Tuesday, with increasing chances into Wednesday. NWS says that snow totals Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening are expected to stay between 6 and 12 inches for most of the mountains. The Park and Gore ranges may see significantly more up to 16 inches in spots.

The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control said on Monday that prescribed burning is planned for Tuesday in La Plata County if the weather is acceptable. The department said recent snowfall made this possible. The burn piles are along the Highway 140 corridor along the La Plata River, so drivers on Highways 140 and 160 may see smoke in the area.

This week of fire danger is not uncommon this winter season. Colorado continues to see historically little snowfall and snowpack and high temperatures. Just last week, Denver7 reported on the dual dangers of elevated fire danger on the plains and serious avalanche hazards in the mountains.

That week, we saw a wind-fueled grassfire that burned about 5,000 acres in Lincoln County. That same day, "brown out" conditions due to dust were at least partially to blame for a 36-vehicle pile-up on Interstate 25 south of Pueblo that killed five people.

Avalanche danger is expected to rise this week as well, with an avalanche watch already in place for the northern mountains, especially around and north of Steamboat Springs, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). That is the only part of the state that is expected to see "High" danger conditions, which is rated as a 4 out of 5 on CAIC's scale.

"We are carefully monitoring this storm, especially for places like Summit County and the Front Range, where previous storms have not yet pushed the snowpack to its tipping point," CAIC wrote in its forecast. "There is some concern that, due to strong winds and dense snow, areas receiving more than 8 inches particularly those that have not experienced a recent large avalanche cycle could see increasingly widespread dangerous conditions."

Colorado has not seen any fatal avalanches this season. As of this time in the 2024-2025 season, three people had died in slides. Two people died within the same timeframe the season prior.

Watch Denver7's 24/7 weather stream in the video player below.

BENNETT, Colo. Windy and stormy days now make Becky Johnson a little nervous.

"I said, 'There's a tornado coming,'" she said, remembering the moment she saw it, just before the swirling storm hit her family home in Bennett last May.

She and her brother Rob both made it to safety, but the damage was extensive.

Windows were shattered, siding was ripped off, and trailers and other property blew away.

"It was a mess. We went outside and everything was just torn up and gone," Johnson said.

That included about seven mature trees in a group of pines on the property. They had been there for 47 years.

"That was mom's project," Johnson explained. "She got them as little saplings. She fed them and watered them and took care of them and made sure they were well watered, so they'd grow."

Becky's mom, Dorothy, passed away in 2017.

"Oh yeah, we miss her. She was feisty," Johnson said.

The trees became a daily reminder of Dorothy watching over Becky and her brother. Now, they're gone.

"(It was) like I lost mom again," Johnson said. "It could have been worse nobody got hurt. But it just hurt."

She said her insurance company denied her claims to replace the trees, which also serve as a windbreak for the property.

Denver7 viewers stepped up to raise funds and help families like the Johnsons who were impacted by the tornadoes.

Denver7 brought the Johnsons to The Tree Farm, where the manager set aside about 20 pine trees for them to shop from.

With the generous donations from Denver7 Gives viewers, the cost of seven new trees, to replace the ones they lost, was completely covered..

Johnson said the trees will help honor her mother's memory. Dorothy loved the trees when they had snow or heavy frost on them and how they glistened in the sunlight, she said.

"Thank you. Thank you very much. From the bottom of our hearts. You don't know how much it helped," Johnson said to those who donated.

Denver7 Gives.

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DENVER Winter returns in a big way to Colorado as heavy accumulations of up to 2 feet is possible in the mountains bringing potentially dangerous driving conditions. Winter storm warning are in effect in the High Country.

The Denver metro and I-25 corridor, including Colorado's northeastern plains, are under critical fire weather conditions Tuesday.

Denver7's Maggy Wolanske headed to the mountains to talk about what the incoming snow means for mountain communities. Watch here:

The Denver7 news team is tracking the latest weather impacts and alerts in the Colorado weather blog below. Refresh this page for updates.

LINKS: Closings and Delays | Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

4:54 p.m. | DIA delays and cancellations | There are 1,031 flights delayed in and out of Denver International Airport, with a total of 86 flights canceled, according to FlightAware.

4:35 p.m. | Snow squalls to impact Highway 287 | A quick burst of heavier snow will impact Highway 287 northwest of Fort Collins to the Wyoming border through 5:15 pm, according to the NWS. That same band of heavier snow is also moving through Jackson and far northern Grand Counties, including Walden, they added.

Heres what to do if you encounter a snow squall on the roads, according to the NWS.

4:03 p.m. | NWS update | Prolonged periods of snowfall/blowing snow in the mountains will persist through Thursday morning, and there's still concerns that stronger winds and heavier snowfall will bring snow squalls to the central mountains of Colorado through Wednesday night, according to the NWS.

In an update Tuesday afternoon, weather officials said a winter storm warning will remain in effect through 5 a.m. Thursday in the Park Range mountains due to an additional 8-12" of snow expected for the area. A winter weather advisory remains in effect for the Front Range and I-70 Mountains and Valleys through 11 p.m. Wednesday due to an additional 3-8" of snow with wind gusts reaching between 50-70 mph.

Critical weather conditions will decrease after 5 p.m. as winds die down, but the westerly winds will continue throughout the rest of the day with gusts up to 45 mph still possible.

A red flag warning also remains in effect through 7 p.m. Tuesday for all of Colorado's Eastern Plains below 6,000 feet.

3:15 p.m. | Eastern Plains wildfires | Multiple wind-whipped wildfires on Colorados Eastern Plains have prompted evacuation orders as they scorch hundreds of acres on Tuesday.

Read more about them here:

2:15 p.m. | Road closure | CO 71 southbound is closed one mile south of Limon at County Road 3C, mile point 97.8, due to fire activity, according to CDOT. Expect delays.

1:57 p.m. | DIA delays and cancellations | There are 846 flights delayed in and out of Denver International Airport today, according to FlightAware. Fifty-one flights have been canceled.

1:56 p.m. | Power outages | There are 212 Xcel energy customers affected by an unplanned power outage in the Boulder County that began this morning, according to the utility's outage map. Estimated time for restoration is 3:30 p.m.

1:46 p.m. | Power outages | There are 1,921 Xcel energy customers affected by unplanned power outages in Larimer and Weld counties that began this morning, according to the utility's outage map. Estimated time for restoration is 2 p.m.

1:38 p.m. | Hot spots | There is a hot spot east of Matheson in Elbert County and another southeast of Roggen in Weld County, according to NWS Boulder.

10:36 a.m. | Blowing dust warning | Eastern Colorado is under a Blowing Dust Warning, according to Colorado Emergency Management.

9:59 a.m. | Power outages| There are approximately 580 Poudre Valley REA customers impacted by a power outage in the Windosr and Johnstown areas, according to the utility company. Customers can find more information and alerts here.

Poudre Valley REA suspended all construction and maintenance work within part of its service territory between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday due to a Red Flag Warning for the area.

9:50 a.m. | Power outages | There are 4,130 Xcel Energy customers affected by a power outage in the Boulder area, according to the utility's outage map. The estimated time for restoration is 10:45 a.m.

9 a.m. | Power outages | Black Hills Energy issued an Emergency Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) due to the hazardous wind gusts and extremely dry conditions, creating dangerous fire conditions Tuesday. It impacts isolated portions of Crowley County, Fremont County, Otero County and Pueblo County.

The towns of Cripple Creek, Victor and Westcliff are on a PSPS Watch. Black Hills said crews would proactively de-energize power lines in the watch areas midday, which could last for an extended period of time.

8:16 a.m. | Monarch Mountain closure | Due to high winds, Monarch Mountain said it would suspend operations for the day and monitor the storm passing through Colorado Tuesday closely.

7:38 a.m. | DIA delays | There are 444 flights delayed in and out of Denver International Airport Tuesday morning, according to FlightAware. Only two flights are canceled.

7:30 a.m. | Preparing for high fire danger | As the High Country is blanketed by much-needed snow, a reminder that the northeastern part of Colorado is under a high fire danger through Tuesday which includes the Foothills, plains and Denver metro area.

A red flag warning goes into effect at 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. You can read the alert here.

The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office said its Emergency Operations Center is open today and the department's Wildland Fire crews have been deployed across the county to react to any fire that pops up Tuesday.

Arapahoe County is under a Stage 2 Burn Ban.

7:05 a.m. | Power restored in Fort Collins | The Poudre Valley REA says power has been restored to around 2,200 customers in the Fort Collins area.

6:45 a.m. | Tracking wind gusts | As the mountains get hammered with heavy, blowing snow we're also tracking high wind gusts on the Front Range and eastern plains. Early this morning, gusts up to 20 mph were reported in the Denver metro area as speeds will pick up across eastern Colorado today which will fuel a high fire danger.

6:35 a.m. | Fort Collins power outage | The Poudre Valley REA says around 2,200 customers are impacted by a power outage this morning. The utility said it hoped to have power restored soon.

"Crews will attempt rerouting power to get everone back on. This allows us to bypass an issue or damaged piece of equipment, restoring service to members while we idenify, isolate, and repair the cause of the outage," wrote Poudre Valley REA.

6:30 a.m. | Snow picking up in the High Country | We're tracking potentially dangerous driving conditions in the mountains as blowing snow and whiteout conditions are a concern Tuesday. Over the last hour, snow has picked up near the Eisenhower Tunnel where Denver7 reporter Sophia Villalba is monitoring conditions on I-70.

6:15 a.m. | Monitoring I-70 | NWS forecasters in Boulder said conditions along I-70 through the High Country will "rapidly deteriorate" after 6 a.m. as snow picks up this morning. You can check the latest winter weather alerts here.

6:05 a.m. | Snow squalls a concern in the mountains | Snow squalls, which the NWS said typically last less than 3 hours, can quickly reduce visibility and bring a potential for chain-reaction accidents.

Heres what to do if you encounter a snow squall on the roads, according to the NWS.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream.

After 65 years of drag racing in Morrison, Bandimere Speedway is looking to build a new track in Weld County near the small town of Hudson.

The family-owned business is seeking to develop land just off Interstate 76, marking a significant change for the community of 1,600 residents.

The zoning proposal was presented at the town's Planning Commission meeting during a standing room-only meeting Wednesday night.

For longtime Hudson resident Linda Pavelka, the project represents an opportunity for growth in a town that doesn't even have a grocery store.

"You realize it's good for the community and it's good for it to grow," Pavelka said.

However, not everyone is enthusiastic about the proposal. Concerns have been raised about potential noise, odor and light pollution that could come with the racing facility.

"We want to be good neighbors, but we are worried about the welfare of our hens," said a representative of Opal Foods, a farm that borders that proposed site.

Right now, the proposed site holds agricultural zoning, which would need to change to accommodate racing operations.

During Wednesday's presentation, we learned the Bandimere family anticipates hosting 20 major events annually between April and October if the project moves forward. But the zoning application represents just the first step in what will be a lengthy development process.

In an interview with Denver7, Hudson Town Manager Bryce Lange acknowledged significant infrastructure planning will be required.

"There's a lot of conversations regarding how we're going to handle transportation, what improvements have to be made to Colorado 52 or to County Road 49," he said.

If the town's planning commission approves the zoning application, it will head to full council for consideration.

Hudson was also identified as a possible location for a new federal immigration detention facility run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as our partners at The Denver Post reported last month.

HUDSON Scores of demonstrators lined up outside a defunct private prison in northern Colorado on Jan. 21 then filled the Town Councils chambers as they protested U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements plans to turn the facility into a detention center.

The prison in the small Weld County town of Hudson, about 30 miles northeast of Denver, was identified by ICE last year as a likely site of a new federal immigration detention facility.

These are our neighbors, Sydney Engel, who lives in nearby Fort Lupton, told the Hudson Town Council of the immigrants being apprehended by ICE. Its hard, but I wont stand here and let my voice not be heard, especially living so close to this community.

After nearly three hours of public comment from Coloradans opposing an ICE facility in Hudson, Mayor Joe Hammock said, Public comment is closed. Lets move on.

Read The Denver Post's story here.

BENNETT, Colo. A rooster sanctuary on the Eastern Plains took in fighting roosters seized in Eagle County as part of a drug bust.

The Eagle County Sheriff's Office found 17 roosters along with narcotics during a traffic stop last month. They also found blades and equipment used in rooster fighting.

"Most people don't know that the game roosters are really, really easy to handle," said Jewel Johnson, founder of Rooster Sanctuary at Danzig's Roost.

She said typically roosters she's seen taken from fighting rings are strong, healthy and calm around humans as those are the types of birds suspects would use the most in fights.

Eagle County contacted the rooster sanctuary to take in the 17 birds they seized. It's an encouraging trend, according to Johnson, that not a single bird was euthanized before given a shot at a second chance.

In the last decade she'd taken in roosters seized from fighting rings, she said that is certainly not always the case.

"They come up with the same excuses over and over and over again. It's 'health and behavior, health and behavior," she said of rational she's heard from other jurisdictions. "I have yet to see any of that come to fruition with any of the groups that I've taken in."

The sanctuary is located in Adams County.

"There's been a couple seizures in this county and we have not been asked to take in any of the roosters," said Johnson.

Denver7 checked in with Adams County. They said since 2024, there have been 2 cases of fighting roosters being seized.

In one of the cases, details cannot be disclosed because there are ongoing court proceedings.

According to Adams County, the second case resulted in the seizure of 39 birds. They said, typically, the Bureau of Animal Protection (BAP) is involved on scene for veterinarian evaluation. However, for some reason, BAP was not available in this second case so several birds were euthanized. The county cited medical or behavioral reasons.

The county reports in 2024, 142 birds from those two cases were taken to the Riverdale Animal Shelter and 111 were adopted.

Johnson hopes the sanctuary can be a resource for law enforcement across the state and said the fighting roosters she just took in from Eagle County are doing great.

"They respond quickly to positive interaction and routine, and they're the most predictable roosters that we've ever had," she said.

Johnson suggests better training, patience and education about birds would go a long way when law enforcement responds to cases involving fighting roosters.

BOULDER, Colo. Cold temperatures paired with strong gusts made wind chill temperatures around Colorado, especially at elevation, plunge well below zero this weekend, with one location clocking below -50 degrees, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

That bitter cold started on Friday and continued through Monday morning. This afternoon, it has started to release its grip with plenty of sunshine back in the forecast to start the week. Temperatures will swing higher as we head into a warming trend.

MORE WEATHER COVERAGE: Hourly forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

Sunday didn't let up much for the AFC Championship in Denver, with doctors warning fans about frostbite. But Denver was far from the coldest recorded wind chill Berthoud Pass nabbed the No. 1 spot with a recording of -53 degrees. That pass is no stranger to topping lists of the coldest places in the state. Back in September 2023, it recorded the coldest spot in the Continental United States.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream.

Arctic air began to move into Colorado Thursday night and will have a grip on much of Colorado through at least Sunday morning, keeping temperatures below freezing until Monday.

In this live weather blog, Denver7 is tracking the latest update on this cold snap, including the weather warnings and watches, impacts to your day and closures.

MORE WEATHER COVERAGE: Hourly forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

Some flurries are expected on Friday- and becoming more widespread Friday night- and linger into Saturday morning on the eastern plains, where wind chills could dip below zero degrees.

Wondering how much snow Denver is expected to get? Don't get your hopes up. The National Weather Service (NWS) out of Boulder reported that "for snow enthusiasts, the setup leaves a lot to be desired." Estimates hover around less than 1/10 of an inch.

Between four and 12 inches of new snow is forecasted for the mountains, mostly along and south of Interstate 70. Mountain roads may become slick around sunset.

Scroll down for the latest weather updates.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream.

5 p.m. | SHELTER | The City of Denver opened an emergency cold weather shelter at a former DoubleTree hotel despite previous objections from some in city council, as sub-zero temperatures settle in across the metro over the next couple of days. Read more in our Denver7 report here.

3:06 p.m. | DENVER ZOO CLOSURE | The zoo will be closed through at least Saturday "due to the extreme cold weather" currently happening in Denver. Temperatures will be below freezing until at least next Monday.

10:46 a.m. | DENVER OPENS MORE SHELTER SPACE | The City of Denver has expanded its cold weather shelter capacity as temperatures dip to the single digits for the next couple of days, bringing with them dangerously-low wind chills plunging to 20 or more degrees below zero.

"All shelter sites are pet-friendly and provide food, showers, and blankets. Transportation will run daily from downtown shelters to cold weather shelter sites. Security will be present at each site, and shelters will deactivate once weather improves," wrote the city in a news release.

Here's additional information from the city on places to find shelter:

24/7 shelter is being provided at 2601 W. 7th Ave., 375 S. Zuni St., and 4411 Peoria St.

Additional shelter is now being provided at 4849 Bannock St, and The Aspen shelter at 4040 Quebec St. will open today at 1 p.m.

5:20 a.m. | EMISSION TESTING DELAY | Air Care Colorado Stations will delay opening by at least two hours. When temperatures fall below 15 degrees, stations suspend operations.

Temperatures are not supposed to rise above 15 degrees by 8 a.m.

7:30 p.m. | FORECAST UPDATE | The NWS is reporting some cold temperatures over the next couple days, with wind chills making the real-feel temperature dip below zero. Below is a look at what to expect.

4:46 p.m. | CLOSURE | The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance said it will close to the public on Friday due to the extreme cold temperatures. Most of the animals will need to remain in their indoor habitats.

DENVER Organizers of the National Western Stock Show say they have sharply reduced the events animal bedding waste by changing how stalls are bedded and by recycling the material into compost sold locally.

We happen to be the only venue in the country that were aware of that actually uses this process, said Kevin Bode, senior director of event operations for the show.

The long-running Denver event, now in its 120th year, will host more than 15,000 animals this year, he said.

In the past, ranchers typically bought bagged bedding and put down their own mulch, often more than they needed. The show now uses a pre-bedding system. Mulch is blown through a tube from a special truck to put down a uniform layer before exhibitors arrive. That change, Bode said, lowered annual waste from about 2,500 tons roughly 9,000 cubic yards to about 1,600 tons, or about 6,000 cubic yards.

Its also benefiting our local businesses, he said. Express Mulching is a local business, so we're utilizing them. The company that's doing our hauling to take them to composting is a local business The composting company is a local business. So, were definitely benefiting the environment here and helping our neighbors.

All bedding is mulched, hauled to a local composting facility, and turned into bagged compost sold through local retailers.

Its very possible that if youre purchasing gardening materials come springtime, you might be getting some of the waste materials that were generated during (the) stock show, Bode said.

The show also takes steps to protect local waterways during the show by diverting storm drains in the stockyard area to the public sewer system so waste is treated rather than discharged into nearby rivers. The yards undergo a sanitization process that can continue until mid-March.

I think if you look, youll find that the ag industry is one of the best stewards when it comes to being environmentally friendly, he said.

PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. A deadly home explosion in eastern Pueblo County was likely caused by the installation of a water heater, investigators say.

Two people died in the explosion, which destroyed a home along 57th Lane in the small town of Boone on Jan. 8, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office.

Based on the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control's investigation, the preliminary cause was "the installation of a water heater," adding that "propane gas was present at the scene."

When first responders arrived at the scene., the home was fully engulfed in flames. Two adults died. They have not been publicly identified.

The investigation into this explosion is ongoing. The sheriff's office said they expect to complete it by mid-February.

No other details were immediately available.