A severe and rare weather warning has been declared for parts of the Colorado Front Range, with forecasters highlighting an extreme and life-threatening wildfire risk fuelled by hurricane-force winds and parched conditions.
‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ Declared
The National Weather Service took the exceptional step on Friday 19 December 2025 of issuing a ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ (PDS) fire weather warning. This alert is reserved for the most critical scenarios and underscores the grave threat posed by a perilous combination of elements.
Forecasters warned that extreme winds gusting between 80 and 100 mph (128-160 kph), super-low humidity, and critically dry vegetation could spark fast-moving, uncontrollable blazes. Jennifer Stark, meteorologist in charge of the NWS office in Boulder, urged calm preparedness, stating, “We don't really want people to panic because that doesn't help anything, but we want people to be prepared.”
Power Shutoffs and Emergency Preparations
In response to the imminent danger, utility company Xcel Energy enacted another public safety power shutoff, leaving tens of thousands of customers without electricity. Some residents had already endured over 24 hours without power, heat, or hot water.
The utility warned that outages could last from several hours to days and that damage from the winds would likely cause even more widespread, unplanned power failures. Colorado transportation officials closed several highways, and stretches of interstate in southeastern Wyoming were shut to high-profile vehicles.
Local authorities stressed the seriousness of the situation. Vinnie Montez, a spokesperson for Boulder County, said in a social media post, “I'm not trying to scare everybody, but this is serious. We want to make sure people take it serious.”
Flood Warnings Hit Pacific Northwest
While Colorado battled wind and fire, the Pacific Northwest faced a deluge. The National Weather Service also issued flood warnings for northwestern Oregon on Friday after heavy rain caused rivers to swell.
In Clackamas County, which includes Portland suburbs and part of Mount Hood, evacuation notices were sent to 300 residences. County spokesperson Scott Anderson reported significant flooding on the Sandy, Clackamas, and Molalla rivers, with rescue operations continuing through the night. An emergency shelter was opened at Clackamas Community College.
Looking ahead, forecasters predicted a stronger ‘Pineapple Express’ atmospheric river would arrive in northern California around Christmas Eve, offering hope for much-needed snow in the Sierra Nevada.
Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon contributed to this report.
