High Wind Warning Issued for Colorado Mountains; Gusts Up to 80 MPH Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a High Wind Warning (HWW) for high-elevation regions of Colorado. The alert is effective immediately and remains in place until 2:00 PM MDT this afternoon.

Affected Areas

The warning covers areas above 9,000 feet, specifically the mountains of Summit County, the Mosquito Range, and the Indian Peaks. Impacted regions include South and Southeast Grand, West Central and Southwest Boulder, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Summit, and North and West Park Counties.

Expected Conditions

Forecasters expect sustained northwest winds ranging from 25 to 40 mph, with powerful gusts reaching up to 80 mph. In addition to the wind hazard, blowing snow is expected to significantly reduce visibility to less than a quarter mile in some locations, particularly along Highway 285 from Como to Kenosha Pass.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning is active through the morning and is scheduled to expire at 2:00 PM MDT on Monday, March 16, 2026.

What You Should Do

Residents are urged to secure loose outdoor objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind. A few power outages may result from the conditions. Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Motorists traveling on Highway 285 should use extra caution due to the combination of high winds and severely limited visibility.