High Wind — Logan County, Colorado

2021-01-13 to 2021-01-15 · Logan County, Colorado

Event narrative

Peak wind gusts included 62 mph along I-76 near Sterling.

Wider weather episode

A widespread high wind event occurred, as a powerful cold front rolled through the Interior Northwest and northern Rockies before reaching the Midwest. Strong and damaging winds developed across north central and northeast Colorado. A peak wind gust of 116 mph was measured at Breckenridge Ski Area, at an elevation of 12,573 feet in the early morning hours of the 14th. In the foothills of Boulder and Larimer counties, a large shed blew over and smashed into a parked car in Gold Hill, and the wind snapped two poles near the Glen Haven General Store leading to power outages in the area. Across metro Denver, a fallen tree brought down power lines and sparked a small grass and shed fire; another tree fell into a house in Centennial. No injuries were reported. Numerous downed trees and power outages occurred over parts of northeast Colorado. On the 15th, the Colorado Department of Transportation closed Interstate 70 between Airpark Rd and the Kansas Stateline because of a dust storm that left drivers with zero visibility and led to several crashes. U.S. 287/40 from Limon to Kit Carson was also closed. A fatal accident on I-70 in Lincoln County, halfway between Genoa and Arriba. At least one fatality was confirmed, with 15 accident victims transported to Limon hospital.

In the mountains and foothills, peak gusts included: 116 mph at Breckenridge Ski Resort, 99 mph near Glen Haven, 94 mph near Crisman, 83 mph near Arapahoe Basin and Blackhawk; 80 mph near Marshall, 79 mph near Berthoud Pass, 78 mph along I-25 near Buckeye and Copper Mountain; 77 mph near Nederland and Wellington; 76 mph near Pinecliffe, 75 mph at Virginia Dale, 74 mph at Walden, 66 mph near Frisco, and 65 mph at Tabernash.

Across the urban corridor and northeast plains of Colorado, peak wind gusts included: 81 mph, 8 miles south of Holyoke; 74 mph near Julesburg, 72 mph near Greeley and Limon; 71 mph near Crook, 69 mph near Centennial and Hugo; 67 mph northwest of Nunn; 66 mph at Akron, Holyoke and near Severance; 65 mph near Eaton, Natural Fort Rest Area and near Wiggins; 64 mph in Broomfield, along U.S. 85 near the Wyoming Stateline and Crow Creek; 63 mph near Cedar Point, Elizabeth and Northglenn; 62 mph at Fort Morgan, near Pawnee Pass, Strasburg and Sterling; 60 mph in Burdett, near Buckley AFB, Castle Pines, Lone Tree and Parker; 59 mph near Littleton and Nunn; 58 mph near Briggsdale, Denver International Airport, and Ovid.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 928755. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.