a lot has already been written about the heat wave next week, including @weatherwest.bsky.social’s posts here. But it is hard to describe how truly outlandish the forecast is for next week. This is looking to be so far outside of anything that’s been observed before in March in the western US.
NWS forecast for Fort Collins currently calling for a Thursday high temp near 90F next week. #cowx
Screenshot of air quality measurements from sensors around CO, NE, and surrounding states. High values focused over eastern CO and NE panhandle. Image taken from purpleair.com
Screenshot of Fort Collins/Loveland area sensors. One sensor selected from Fort Collins with a current Air Quality Index of 367. Graph showing increase at sensor overnight and morning. Text on tooltip says ">300: Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected with 24 hours of exposure." Screenshot taken from purpleair.com
Air quality in northeast and southeast CO and the NE panhandle is ridiculously poor due to the wildfire near Lake McConaughy in NE. Widespread PM2.5 values in excess of 300, which is considered a "health warning of emergency conditions" for all populations.
Large tree down with caution tape
Large tree down with caution tape. A car is beneath it
Large tree down with caution tape
Large trees down on CSU’s campus from today’s high winds #cowx
Trucks
Five blown over trucks and one too scared to move
CSU closed March 13 Colorado State University is closed March 13. All in-person, hybrid and remote classes and operations, including meetings and work functions, are canceled for all Larimer County campuses. CSU crews are assessing damage after high winds in the Fort Collins area, with damaged trees the primary concern.
wow, I don’t recall CSU ever having a wind damage closure before
In case you missed it, the viral hail report in Kankakee, Illinois that was challenging the record for largest recorded hailstone ever (8 inches - Vivian, SD) is gone
However, Illinois does have a new state-record hailstone (also from Kankakee) with a preliminary maximum size of 6.14 inches
90 mph wind gust at the Cheyenne Wyoming ASOS (78kts) just set the all-time wind speed record at KCYS! #wywx #wind
Weather West update on a prolonged and very likely record-breaking March heatwave in the western U.S. that will begin Thursday in some areas & actually not reach its peak for another 7-10 days in some spots. This forecast is truly extraordinary for March.
WBAL in Baltimore helping viewers understand the difference between watches and warnings
Lightly accumulations on elevated & grassy surfaces!
Thank you for the pleasant scene, little snow squall #cowx
Just your typical elevated hailstorm moving into Chicago where it’s 39F at the surface but with >1000 J/kg MUCAPE
February 2026 Colorado Monthly Climate Summary statewide departure from 1901-2000 avg: +9.2°F statewide departure from 1991-2020 avg: +7.6°F statewide rank: 1st warmest/132nd coldest Warmest February on record statewide Snowpack remains lowest in over 40 years Several locations, including Denver, Fort Collins, Akron, and Colorado Springs shatter records for most 60°F+ days Multiple grass fires, including ones near Boulder, Thornton, Matheson, and Wiggins Maximum daily precipitation (1.8" at Spud Mountain) Minimum daily temperature (-27°F in Taylor Park) Maximum daily temperature (85°F in Pueblo and Campo) Maximum daily snowfall 12.5" near Bayfield) February 2026 Temperature Rank (from NCEI nclimgrid) Statewide Temperature and Precipitation Ranks for February 2026 (based on 1895-2026 data) 1st warmest (record warmest) 37th driest (below average)
Unfortunately, not much good news to share in our February state climate summary. According to NOAA data, it was the warmest February in 132 years of records. Mountain snowpack remains at the lowest level in over 40 years. Several locations set new monthly high temperature records for February. 1/4
Graphic showing the spring leaf index anomaly for March 3, 2026 for the contiguous United States, with spread arriving very early in central and western areas and late in the southeast.
It's been so warm for cities like Denver, Colorado that even phenological spring has arrived there according to the first leaf out! Wow!
Graphic from @usa-npn.bsky.social: www.usanpn.org/data/maps/sp...
👀 new storm events database site at @noaa.gov , and it's not terrible!
Go check out the beta site and break it!
www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm...
graph showing the number of days in December through February with temperatures of 60F or above at Fort Collins, Colorado. This year had 43 which is almost double the previous high of 22.
graph showing the number of days in December through February with daily low above 32F at Fort Collins, Colorado. This year had 19 which is almost double the previous high of 10.
A couple of the wildest graphs I recall making. It's been #warm... at Fort Collins the warmest climatological winter by nearly 4°F! #cowx 🌡️
Fort Collins number of days with TMAX >= 60°F, December through February. "Fort Collins has recorded 38 60°F days this winter. Previous high was 22 (1980-81). The remaining days in the month are all forecast to be 60 or above (five more).
@rschumacher.cloud on a state call this morning, talking about the crazy warmth we've been experiencing. The number of days Fort Collins has passed 60°F this winter, far surpasses any other winter!
AMS is deeply concerned by the repeal of EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding, which concluded greenhouse gas emissions harm health and well-being. The science remains clear: human-caused climate change is already causing harmful impacts.
Read the full statement: https://bit.ly/4tBwz9w
The mountain snowpack so far this winter is in bad shape. Long-time Coloradans might remember two other terrible winters for snow: 1976-77 and 1980-81. Our latest blog post takes a look at how this year compares to those snow droughts of the past. #cowx
I had a fun opportunity to chat with some very bright 3rd graders through this collaboration with CPR! The kids managed to stump me on one question :)
Share your science with your communities ❤️👩🔬
Taking off my weather hat for a moment for something more important than the forecast…today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
I’ve shared before that my grandparents (mom’s side) are both Holocaust survivors. Please do me a favor and read their story in this thread.
Exceptional. Record-smashing. Disturbingly warm. December 2025 was one for the record books in Colorado.
🌡️ Warmest December
🌡️ >1000 daily high temperature records
🌡️ Warmest October thru December by far
🌡️ 4th-warmest year
Read more in our monthly summary: climate.colostate.edu/monthly_summ...
Since SPC isn’t on BlueSky yet, I’ll share these fun “Wrapped”-style graphics here. Here’s a look back at SPC product issuances in 2025. Stay tuned for a more thorough review of the severe storm season coming in the new year.
Current radar snapshot with warnings depicted.
Tornado Warning inside a Severe Thunderstorm Warning inside a Flash Flood Warning in LA County at the moment, if you're wondering how things are going... #CAwx #LArain
This was very fun to work on, emerging from student class projects a few years ago. How sharp can a cold front get? We were able to point to some answers.
Very strong winds and extremely dry conditions are expected across the Front Range tomorrow (Dec. 19). Critical fire weather conditions will be in place, with the greatest risk over parts of Boulder and Jefferson counties.
Key messages below from NWS Boulder. Stay safe and weather aware! #cowx
Map of maximum wind gusts from the ASOS, CoAgMET, and Northern Water networks on 17-18 December 2025.
Extreme winds were observed across eastern Colorado yesterday, with numerous wildfires growing quickly in Yuma County last night. The strongest winds were in the foothills, with several reports of gusts over 100mph. But the >80mph gusts on the eastern plains are perhaps even more unusual. #cowx
Before the 1990s, plane crashes caused by microbursts used to kill planeloads of people fairly regularly.
Dr. Ted Fujita and NCAR scientists figured out how to detect microbursts and warn pilots about them.
Since then? Zero airliner crashes from microbursts.
