Early Saturday, March 14, Denver woke up to clear skies and mild temperatures around 57°F at local stations, but the calm will not last long. West‑southwest winds are expected to strengthen through the day, and a sharp cold front late Saturday night will flip winds to the north and change any rain to snow into Sunday, March 15. Gusty conditions could knock down branches, blow around unsecured items and complicate evening commutes and mountain travel.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Strong west‑southwest winds will intensify through Saturday afternoon with sustained speeds around 25–30 mph and widespread gusts of 40–60 mph across the urban corridor. The NWS Denver/Boulder notes gusts could briefly reach 70 mph near the foothills between roughly 1 and 5 p.m. MDT. A High Wind Watch covers parts of the metro into Sunday afternoon, and dry air plus strong mixing raise critical fire weather concerns for lower elevations this afternoon. Secure patio furniture and trailers, and expect blowing dust in exposed areas.
Late Night Front Brings Rain Then Snow
The cold front should sweep through around 9 p.m. MDT Saturday, bringing an initial surge of north winds with gusts near 55–65 mph and a quick band of rain that will switch to snow between about midnight and 5 a.m. on Sunday, March 15. New snow in the Denver metro is expected to be light, generally under half an inch, while the Palmer Divide and foothills could see one to a few inches. Mountain passes will see the heaviest rates and the worst visibility, so avoid overnight travel if you can. Power outages are possible where gusts and falling limbs coincide.
How To Prepare
Fasten or stow loose outdoor items before the afternoon gusts, and consider delaying nonessential trips on exposed roads, since high‑profile vehicles are especially vulnerable. If you are driving to the high country Sunday morning, pack chains or traction devices and check road reports before you go. For background on the broader warm‑then‑cold swing that set up this event, see our earlier coverage, as per Hoodline.
