From Red Flags to Snowstorms: Western Colorado’s Wild 48-Hour Weather U-Turn

Spring’s about to hit the brakes, but not before one more round of typical Colorado weather.

Monday is your final day of hot, dry, and windy weather, and yeah, it’s another one where things could get a little sketchy.

After that, we finally start to turn the corner.

One More Fire Weather Day

Red Flag Warnings are in effect from noon to 8 PM across lower elevations in northwest and west-central Colorado. We’re talking wind gusts up to 45 mph and humidity dropping below 15%.

That combo is about as bad as it gets this time of year.

Conditions will be especially rough along and north of I-70, but really, the whole region is dealing with warm, dry air and gusty winds.

If it can spark, it can spread.

Still Way Too Warm

Even with high pressure starting to break down, temperatures are still running well above normal for late March.

So yeah, it’s going to feel more like early summer again.

But this is the last day of that.

Big Pattern Shift Incoming

Starting late Monday into Tuesday, things finally begin to change.

A new system pushes in from the northwest, bringing cooler air and a lot more moisture. At first, it’ll just look like clouds, but by Tuesday night into Wednesday, we’ll start seeing actual precipitation.

Lower elevations are looking at rain.

Higher elevations, especially above 9,000 feet, are back in business with snow.

Read More: Why Was There a Viking Ship in the Grand Junction Desert in 1975?

Mountain Snow Returns

There’s a pretty solid chance (70% or higher) that mountain areas above 9,000 to 10,000 feet pick up 6+ inches of snow.

That said, it is spring.

Warm ground and fluctuating temps mean totals can be tricky, but passes could see the most impact, especially during the early morning hours.