Always Windy? (Denver, Boulder, Broomfield: eat, castle, metro area)

[kimmer]

Hi, we just got back from our exploratory trip to Denver, and I loved it! Even though it was during the cold snap - high teens, low twenties and some snow fall.
I have a few questions:
Are the 'burbs north of Denver (Broomfield, Boulder, Erie, etc) always that windy? The south 'burbs didn't seem nearly as windy (higher density?)
Needless to say I was cold during my visit to Boulder, Erie, and anywhere outside of Flatiron Mall!

Thanks

[sunsprit]

Your trip was in the middle of the winter season.

Winter "Storm fronts" typically cycle in for a few days, then a few days of calm. There may ... or may not ... be moisture (snow) associated with a frontal passage, and the fronts vary from "upslope" to "downslope" depending upon the location and direction of the low/high system.

It's this cycle of storm/clear that makes the winter time as tolerable as it is during a typical winter in the area. Storm comes in, gets nasty outside, moves on out ... and the sun comes out strong and clear to melt the snow off the streets.

So, no, it's not always that windy. Spring through fall will have less wind ... mostly gentle breezes, although a front may bring in a 100 mph peak gust into the area even when the prevailing winds are much, much, less.

[Kaptain Karl]

It "varies by location." For instance, in Colo. Springs both spring and fall are quite gusty/windy. Winter and summer are not that different from anywhere else, IMO.

- KK

[whitelite]

Originally Posted by kimmer

Hi, we just got back from our exploratory trip to Denver, and I loved it! Even though it was during the cold snap - high teens, low twenties and some snow fall.
I have a few questions:
Are the 'burbs north of Denver (Broomfield, Boulder, Erie, etc) always that windy? The south 'burbs didn't seem nearly as windy (higher density?)
Needless to say I was cold during my visit to Boulder, Erie, and anywhere outside of Flatiron Mall!

Thanks

North up by Boulder is on the average much more windy than that of the southern "burbs". Sedalia, Castle Rock, Larkspur are low wind areas, except when a "storm" moves in, but that is normal everywhere.

[nomansland]

Well, here in the winter the Denver Metro area frequently experiences what is called "Chinook" winds. Indian word for "snow eater" because these winds roar down the mountains at 100+ mph at times and warm as they descend. So to answer your question: yes it is windy here esp. during the winter months.

[MattDen]

I love chinooks in the winter, 70 degrees during the middle of January when those happen!