Winter Storm Warning | Colorado Weather

Good morning! I'm Aaron Jolly. And welcome to the Colorado Weather Podcast — it's Tuesday, February 24th. Step outside right now and you'll feel 41 degrees of unusual February warmth. But don't get too comfortable.. Today's all about contrast and change. **The Front Range** wakes up mild, then the winds take over. Southwest gusts hit 33 miles an hour by 3 PM as temperatures soar to 70 degrees by 2 PM. Seventy degrees in February. But here's the Colorado twist. Those winds flip after sunset. And by 5 AM Wednesday, it'll feel like 36 degrees even though your thermometer reads 41. Classic bait and switch. **Head south** and you'll find even warmer air. The Southern Front Range hits 72 degrees by 1 PM. Northwest gusts to 35 miles an hour early, then shifting west-northwest by midday. Tonight drops to 39 degrees, with winds staying lively. **Over on the Western Slope**, it's cooler and quieter. Highs only reach 56 degrees by 3 PM with light southeast winds. But don't pack away the winter gear yet. Mountain snow returns tonight. **Speaking of mountains..** A Winter Storm Warning hits the Elkhead and Park Mountains from 6 PM tonight through Wednesday night. Expect 8 to 16 inches of heavy, wet snow above 9,000 feet. Winds gust to 65 miles an hour. Travel will be very difficult to impossible, especially Wednesday morning. The Flat Tops and Gore-Elk Mountains get 4 to 8 inches. If you're heading into the high country, plan for winter driving by tonight. **Fire danger is critical today.** A Red Flag Warning covers the eastern plains and urban corridor from 10 AM to 5 PM. Winds gusting to 45 miles an hour plus 10 percent humidity mean any spark could explode into a fast-moving fire. No outdoor burning today. We stay warm through Friday with highs in the 60s and 70s. But wind keeps fire danger elevated to critical through Friday. Sunday brings a slight cooldown and a chance of rain showers, especially for the Front Range and Western Slope. Sunrise today at 6:42 AM, sunset at 5:47 PM. We're gaining 2 minutes and 31 seconds of daylight each day now. Stay fire safe today, folks. That's your forecast — we'll be back tomorrow.