The wind blew through Colorado as I expected on Friday, January 16, 2026 and not only blew harder than the three year old trying to blow birthday candles out and getting spit everywhere, but blew hard enough to prompt dust storm warnings, reduce visibility, and blow semi trucks over on Interstate 70 near Stratton. The arrival of a strong cold front over the plains late Thursday and early Friday did kick the wind up, but it was the arrival of a jet streak from the north on the backside of a large trough over the eastern United States that really caused the issued. The atmosphere was primed for this stronger air aloft to come down to the surface, and for the areas that had it – it was significant.
