Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Brighton, CO

DISCUSSION /Through Tuesday/
Issued at 1155 PM MDT Tue Mar 10 2026

Current trends necessitated some changes to our short-term forecast grids for this overnight period, with low and mid-level moisture spilling over the Continental Divide and into the urban corridor and plains in the wake of the frontal passage. Snow showers have become more expansive with gradual moistening of near-surface conditions, so have introduced higher PoPs and lowered snow levels to account for the potential for a few areas of light snow accumulations up to 1", mainly on colder surfaces. In the mountains, 2-5" can be expected through the next few hours, with locally slick conditions and travel impacts for the passes. Shower activity should subside by around 3AM Wednesday.

Expect cooler highs Wednesday in the wake of the front, mostly in the low to mid 50's for the plains. Clear skies will prevail and the jet will remain fairly close just to our north, and with quite efficient mixing, breezy conditions will continue in the high country and also portions of our northeast plains, with near- critical fire weather conditions in place.

Healthy amplification of the surface low on Thursday across the northern CONUS will support rapid strengthening of east-west pressure gradients, set to peak Thursday afternoon when cross- barrier flow up to 65 kts is indicated. Cross-sections suggest mountain wave development beginning near daybreak, with the axis of strongest winds centered over our foothills above 7,500 ft, where the probability of gusts exceeding 80-90 mph is high (75%). There's some disagreement with regard to inversion placement and duration however, and wind directions become suboptimal (i.e. more northwesterly) above ~600mb for downwind amplification, which notably limits confidence in such strong gusts materializing for adjacent lower elevations. Most of the higher resolution models still maintain the core of these winds in the foothills, but we've seen guidance change quickly in the past within the 12-24 hours preceding the onset of wind events, so will opt to maintain our current High Wind Watch for areas along/west of I-25 with this potential in mind. As is typical, the Highway 93 corridor would be the most susceptible to incursions of very strong gusts, if that occurs. In any case, most of the urban corridor and plains will be exposed to fingers of at least moderately strong winds (gusts 35-50 mph) through the day, which will drive critical fire weather conditions given renewed low humidity.

Pressure gradients relax Friday, but we'll remain under a warm and dry subsident flow regime, with healthy flow aloft persisting. As such, critical fire weather conditions will continue despite some moderation in the peak strength of the winds.

Our next wind event arrives Saturday as a developing shortwave over the northern plains nudges the jet stream southward over Colorado.
Downslope winds will strengthen through the day, and mountain wave potential does exist for the afternoon hours. Critical fire weather conditions may be more expansive Saturday for the lower elevations and into portions of the foothills, and we'll be plenty dry and warm. However, the strongest winds for many areas, including our plains, may actually hold off until Thursday evening into early Sunday and be primarily Bora-driven as a robust cold front descends into the area. This system will begin to increase snowfall chances in our high country by Saturday evening and, if moisture can survive, potentially bring some light snow to our lower elevations as well overnight and into Sunday (~60% chance). Depending on how much moisture we can hold on to under the northwest flow aloft, mountain snow could linger into Monday. Temperatures will cool down considerably for Sunday, but a warming trend will return quickly for Monday with rapid warming anticipated through next week.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday/
Issued at 532 AM MDT Wed Mar 11 2026

Patches of stratus/MVFR ceilings will be eroding through 15Z as a drier airmass arrives on the heels of northerly winds. Mostly clear skies and VFR will then persist through the TAF period.

North/northeast winds gusting to 20-26 kts will persist through about 20-21Z, although there is some uncertainty as to magnitude and exact direction with an anticyclonic flow pattern in place.
With the anticyclone, a more easterly component is expected especially at KBJC. Even at KDEN, winds are expected to weaken to around 10 kts and turn more easterly 22Z-24Z. Then look for a gradual E-SE-S turn 01Z-04Z, and then hold S-SSW through 12Z Thursday. Eyes will turn toward potential strong, gusty winds for later Thursday on subsequent TAF forecasts.

FIRE WEATHER
Issued at 1155 PM MDT Tue Mar 10 2026

Wednesday will bring warmer and drier conditions with humidity lowering to near or slightly below 15% across the plains. There's potential for efficient mixing to lead to a window or breezier northwest winds gusting 25-35 mph for the northeast plains this afternoon, though some weakening is likely as the afternoon progresses. Patchy critical conditions are thus possible for parts of our plains today, but confidence in their spatial extent or duration is not high enough for any headlines.

On Thursday, a strong mountain wave will develop and produce westerly wind gusts in excess of 80 mph across much of the foothills, with potential for localized gusts of 60-80 mph for immediately adjacent lower elevations, where humidity will fall to near 15%. Critical fire weather conditions will extend into the plains with gusts above 35-45 mph expected. Overnight recoveries will be poor along the base of the foothills Thursday night.

Critical conditions will continue Friday, with some moderation in peak winds, but still retaining some gusts above 30-45 mph for parts of the plains, urban corridor and lower foothills where humidity will again be low.

Another wind event is anticipated Saturday with potential for stronger gusts and mountain wave development, before a potent front brings a surge of strong winds late in the day. Dry daytime conditions will be in place leading to widespread critical fire weather.

BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
High Wind Watch from late tonight through late Thursday night for COZ033>036.

High Wind Watch from Thursday morning through late Thursday night for COZ038-039-042.

Fire Weather Watch from Thursday morning through late Thursday night for COZ238-239.

Fire Weather Watch from Thursday morning through Thursday evening for COZ240-242>245-248>251.