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Denver weather: Red Flag Warning due to high winds, dry conditions

By January 16, 2026 | updated 3 weeks ago

A webcam shows sunny skies in Denver around 8:30 a.m., but dust storms could impact visibility later in the day on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

High winds and dry conditions have meteorologists concerned about fire danger in Denver and its surrounding areas on Friday.

The National Weather Service in Boulder issued a Red Flag Warning for Denver on Friday, that also stretches across the Northeast Colorado plains, I-25 urban corridor, the Northern Foothills and includes Boulder, the west Denver suburbs and the Palmer Divide.

The Red Flag Warning is in effect through Friday afternoon, the weather service said.

Meteorologists warned that blowing dust could be an issue in Denver on Friday, especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. as winds whip across the city at 19 to 29 mph, with gusts up to 47 mph expected.

Temperatures in Denver are chilly on Friday, with the high only expected to reach 39 degrees. That’s about 5 degrees cooler than the average high temperature for Jan. 16 in Denver, according to weather service data.

Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph could blast the northeast plains of Colorado, the weather service said, and conditions are extremely dry, creating a high risk for wildfires.

Red flag warning issued Friday, Jan. 16, 2026
Red flag warning issued Friday, Jan. 16, 2026

Xcel Energy pre-emptively cut power to about 9,000 customers in the area of Fort Collins and Loveland to reduce wildfire risks, the company said.

The weather service said to follow all burn ban restrictions in the area, avoid driving on grass and properly discard of cigarettes as fires have the potential to spread rapidly on Friday.

The weather service said strong crosswinds could make travel hazardous on Friday and dust storms or “brown-outs” could impact visibility, especially on I-70 and I-76 to the east and northeast of Denver.

Tonight the temperatures will be extremely cold with the low dropping to about 18 degrees with blustery winds and gusts as high as 30 mph in Denver, the weather service said.

Conditions Saturday in Denver are expected to be sunny with a high near 38 degrees and breezy winds. The mercury is expected to climb into the 50s in Denver on Sunday under sunny skies.

Daniel Boniface

Reporter

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