Colorado weather blog: Dangerous winds hammer Front Range

By: Robert Garrison

High wind warning expires for Denver, extreme gusts still possible in Colorado

Winds exceeding 100 mph are possible in Colorado’s foothills this weekend with high wind gusts expected across a large portion of the state, including the Denver metro area.

The Denver7 news team is tracking the latest updates, road conditions, power outages and more as the wind storm moves through our area.

Refresh this page for updates and keep checking back for new details.

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

Sunday, April 7

8:10 a.m. | TRAFFIC LIGHTS OUT | The city of Littleton warned motorists to expect traffic lights to be out at major intersections and crews have contacted Xcel Energy. Traffic lights were expected to be impacted across the Front Range due to high winds.

7:40 a.m. | DENVER WINDS SUBSIDE | A high wind warning was allowed to expire for Denver and metro communities to the east, including Denver International Airport, but the warning remains in effect until Noon for many areas including the western suburbs of Denver and areas stretching north through Fort Collins.

The worst of the winds appear to be over, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Boulder.

"Still very windy in and immediately adjacent to the foothills, and also over the northeast plains through this morning, but gradually decreasing today," said the NWS.

high wind warning colorado.jpg — High wind warning expires for Denver.

7:20 a.m. | TREE TOPPLED INTO HOME | Denver7 reporter Adria Iraheta was on the scene off Santa Fe Drive and West Mineral Avenue where a tree crashed into a home. No injuries were reported in Littleton where 68 mph wind gusts were reported.

High winds topple tree into Littleton house

Saturday, April 6

10 p.m. | PEAK WIND GUSTS | Stacey Donaldson has the top wind gusts recorded on Saturday, as of 10 p.m., with 91 mph gusts at Copper Mountain and Buckeye in Larimer County leading the way

The strongest wind gusts we saw in Colorado: 10 p.m Saturday update

9:20 p.m. | ROAD CLOSURE | The eastbound ramp to C-470 from I-70 was closed for an overturned semi

#Closed eastbound on ramp to C470 from eastbound I70 - mile marker 260 Follow @csp_golden for updates. https://t.co/cq5NjC5j2g pic.twitter.com/Xx1klyBt93
— Jeffco Sheriff (@jeffcosheriffco) April 7, 2024

7:15 p.m. | FRAMED ROOF COLLAPSE | The roof of an under-construction building collapsed due to high winds. The debris forced the closure of Eastbound 92nd Avenue from Harlan to Eaton Street, 91st Place from Harlan to Eaton Street and Eaton Street from 91st to 92nd.

6:30 p.m. | TREE FALLS ON HOUSE | A tree fell on a house on Highland Drive in Littleton.

Update: The structure is stable and the Littleton Building Department is responding. pic.twitter.com/V02vgEylt2
— South Metro Fire Rescue (@SouthMetroPIO) April 7, 2024

4:54 p.m. | I-25 CLOSURES | Both directions of I-25 are closed to all vehicles at Wellington to the state line due to strong winds. There is estimated time on when it will reopen.

3:32 p.m. | SKI CLOSURE | Eldora closed at 1 p.m. Saturday due to extreme weather conditions, the ski area reported. Eldora will remain closed Sunday.

Extreme weather impacting Colorado ski areas

2:16 p.m. | I-25 CLOSURES | I-25 is closed at Wellington to all high profile vehicles and CMV traffic due to extremely high winds.

2 p.m. | WINDS STRENGTHENING | A 69 mph wind gust was reported at Rocky Mountain Regional Airport in Broomfield and the Wind Technology Center southeast of Boulder reported a gust to 75 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

1:50 p.m. | MOUNTAIN SNOW | Conditions are extremely poor in the mountains with temperatures in the low 20s and extremely cold windchills. Blizzardlike conditions reported inside Rocky Mountain National Park.

11:59 a.m. | POWER OUTAGES | Xcel Energy is warning customers in Colorado that it will purposely shut off power starting at 3 p.m. in "certain limited areas" to reduce the risk of a wildfire and ensure public safety. The communities that may experience a power shutoff are primarily in Boulder County, small sections of Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, Douglas and Broomfield Counties, and the West Denver Metro area along the foothills, the company said in a news release.

The measure is in response to projected wind gusts of up to 100 mph in the foothills starting Saturday and intensifying through the afternoon and evening. In all, about 55,000 customers will be impacted.