High Wind in Phillips County, Colorado

Wind sensors in and around the Holyoke area reported wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph with a cold front passage during the evening of the 15th. Strong winds reformed during the morning and afternoon of the 16th with additional wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph.

A strong cold front swept southward across eastern Colorado during the evening of January 15th, with it bringing wind gusts of 55 to 70 mph. Winds subsided overnight, but became strong again during morning and afternoon hours of January 16th. A few power poles came down in Larimer County. Several miles of I-25 north of Fort Collins to the WY state line was closed to all traffic and US 85 north of Greeley to the WY line was closed to all traffic as well. A grass fire (about 500 acres) occurred along I-76 in Sedgwick county south of Sedgwick. Mandatory evacuations south of I-76 and east of HWY 59 lasted about hour before the fire was contained.