Summit County Citizens Voice

The main storm track is just north of Colorado, with strong winds forecast Thursday night and Friday in the Colorado mountains.

High wind warning issued for high country, foothills and Front Range

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — We’re printing the shirts right now — “La Niña came to town and all we got was a lousy windstorm.”

That’s the weather story for the next few days, as a strong northwest flow returns to the West. Unfortunately for the Colorado Rockies, the storm track will stay just to the north, bringing powder to the Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, but mostly bypassing the resorts along the I-70 corridor.

After a few passing waves brush the area through the weekend, high pressure returns for the start of the new year, potentially lingering right through the end of the forecast period.

But that doesn’t mean it will be boring. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning covering Summit County, the Vail area and much of the Front Range. Sustained wind speeds will range from 30 to 45 mph, with gusts up to 80 mph possible, in a repeat of the November wind event that knocked down scores of trees across the high country.

The strongest winds are expected late Thursday night and early Friday morning, then calming a bit Friday afternoon, though the warning is in effect from 11 pm. Thursday through 5 p.m. Friday.

Temps will remain near to slightly above average, with highs in the mid to upper 30s and lows in the teens. Plenty of sunshine in the forecast next week; not exactly what we want, but enjoy it anyway.

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, La Niña, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather Tagged: | Colorado Rockies, Colorado snow, Colorado weather, high wind warning, National Weather Service, summit county weather