Denver, Colorado – A powerful storm system is set to sweep across the central United States this weekend, bringing with it multiple weather threats ranging from high winds to fire danger to severe storms. More than 30 million people in over a dozen states, including Texas and North Dakota, are under alerts for wind and critical fire conditions as the storm system progresses eastward.
Wind gusts exceeding 40-60 mph are forecasted for Saturday and Sunday in several states, with some areas in the central Rockies potentially experiencing gusts over 80 mph in higher elevations. Cities such as Denver, Lincoln (Nebraska), and Amarillo (Texas) are under high wind warnings as the storm system approaches.
In addition to the wind concerns, over 3 million people across five states are facing critical fire weather conditions on Saturday. Dry weather and gusty winds in southeastern Colorado, western Kansas, and the Oklahoma Panhandle have heightened the risk of rapidly spreading wildfires. Xcel Energy Colorado has announced precautionary power outages for select areas due to the increased threat of wind-driven wildfires.
Although conditions are expected to improve slightly on Sunday, parts of the Plains will still experience strong winds and dry weather, maintaining a lingering fire danger in some regions. Furthermore, late Saturday afternoon and evening could bring scattered severe thunderstorms to parts of Nebraska and Kansas, with potential risks of damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.
Following this weekend’s weather events, the storm system is anticipated to bring severe thunderstorms to parts of the South, including Texas, on Monday. The threat of severe weather, including large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes, is expected after a historic total solar eclipse. Meanwhile, winter alerts are in effect for parts of the Rockies, with heavy mountain snowfall forecasted to extend the ski season but potentially impacting travel through mountain passes.