High Wind — Northeastern Weld County, Colorado

2000-03-07 to 2000-03-08 · Northeastern Weld County, Colorado

Wider weather episode

High winds developed in and near the Front Range Foothills, as well as parts of the northeast plains of Colorado as yet another Pacific storm system moved across the region. Several trees and power lines were reportedly downed near Blackhawk, Boulder and in Coal Creek Canyon. In Boulder, about 30 homes in the Pinebrook Hills subdivision were evacuated when downed power lines sparked a grassfire. The winds eventually shifted the fire into itself, allowing firefighters to contain the two acre blaze. Several roofs were also blown off barns, sheds and garages. High winds forced the closure of U.S. Highway 287, from Fort Collins to the Wyoming stateline, and Colorado 71, from Stoneham to the Nebraska stateline. Two semi-trailers were blown over; one along Colorado 470 between Golden and Morrison, with the other along Interstate 25 near the Longmont exit. In and along the Front Range Foothills, peak wind gusts included: 101 mph (88 kts) atop Bonner Peak and at the Rocky Flats Environmental Test Facility, 100 mph (87 kts) at the NWTC, 98 mph (85 kts) at Wellington, 93 mph (81 kts) near Estes Park, 90 mph (78 kts) at Blackhawk and Blue Mountain, 92 mph (80 kts) at South Boulder, 85 mph (74 kts) at Allenspark and Como, 81 mph (71 kts) at Pinewood Lake, 80 mph (70 kts) at Carter Lake, 73 mph (63 kts) at Coal Creek Canyon, 72 mph (62 kts) at Golden and 70 mph (61 kts) at Hourglass Lake, Louisville and atop Loveland Pass.In the Northeast Plains, peak wind gusts included: 89 mph (77 kts) at Padroni, 74 mph (64 kts) at Merino, 71 mph (61 kts) at Fort Morgan, 69 mph (60 kts) at the Akron airport, 68 mph (59 kts) at Hereford, 66 mph (57 kts), 4 miles east of Haxtun and 15 miles west-northwest of Sterling, 64 mph (56 kts), 14 miles north-northwest of Otis, 63 mph (52 kts) at New Raymer, 61 mph (53 kts), 9 miles north of Limon, with 60 mph (52 kts) at Crook.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5132699. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.