Denver rolled into Sunday, March 15, on the chilly side, hovering near freezing with cloudy skies, patchy blowing snow and a steady north wind making the morning commute feel rougher than the numbers on the thermometer. A High Wind Warning is up across the metro area and the eastern plains through the afternoon, and most of the light snow across the lowlands is expected to wind down by mid-morning.
What To Expect
Across parts of the eastern plains, north winds will run about 30 to 40 mph with isolated gusts that could spike to around 60 mph. In Denver itself, gusts will commonly push into the 30 mph range through the morning and early afternoon. The overnight band of rain and snow should fade out by mid-morning, with new accumulation on the plains generally staying under half an inch, while the higher passes could still see some brief but heavier squalls. These winds could knock around unsecured objects, briefly cut visibility and trigger a few power outages, according to the NWS Denver/Boulder.
Afternoon Commute
High-profile vehicles, motorcyclists and anyone crossing exposed bridges should stay cautious through the afternoon. Gusts are expected to ease after about 3 PM MDT but conditions will stay on the breezy side into the evening. If you have outdoor furniture, tarps or light items on balconies, secure them now, and allow extra time for trips on I-25 and I-70 where crosswinds can be strongest.
Late-Week Warm-Up
After the blustery Sunday, temperatures stage a big rebound. Highs are expected to reach near 73°F on Tuesday, March 17, jump into the low 80s by Wednesday, March 18, and peak near 85°F on Thursday, March 19. Meteorologists say the late-week stretch could bring temperatures well above normal and even flirt with monthly records across the lower elevations, according to the NWS Denver/Boulder.
For more background on the pattern driving this roller-coaster week, see our earlier coverage of Denver's spring gusts from late February, as per Hoodline. We will update this post if watches or warnings change throughout the day.
