A High Wind Statistical Prediction Model for the Northern Front Range of Colorado

Numerical models occasionally struggle with forecasting certain meteorological events, so statistical methods can be employed to aid operational forecasters. One example is high wind events along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in northern Colorado. During the cool season, fair-weather wind events can produce gusts exceeding 35 m s -1 , sometimes resulting in widespread damage. In this study, we build on previous research on Colorado high wind events and describe the development of a statistical model that is now running in real-time. Given the abundance of reanalysis data now available, similar models could be built for a variety of applications in other parts of the country or the world.