A strong upper level jet stream produced high winds in and near the Front Range mountains, foothills and adjacent plains of northeast Colorado.  In Boulder, the strong winds snapped power poles and toppled trees.  As a result, about 7,000 Xcel Energy customers were without power for several hours.  The high winds overturned a tractor-trailer on Foothills Highway overpass, north of Valmont Road.  The driver suffered minor injuries.  A parked car was totalled when it was crushed by a fallen tree near the University of Boulder.  The strong winds were also responsible for two Boulder County wildfires which consumed a total of 65 acres.  Colorado Department of Transportation officials closed U.S. 36 at McCaslin Boulevard in both directions after the wind caused damage to the pedestrian overpass.  Metal siding from the overpass fell into highway; fortunately there were no injuries.
In total, electrical outages affected 46,000 customers along the Front Range.  Damage to roofs, siding, garage doors and fences was also reported along the Urban Corridor.  In Timnath, the wind knocked a power line on to the roof of the Colorado Feed and Grain building.  The ensuing fire partially destroyed the building and forced the evacuation of three people.  Across the northeast plains of Colorado the stronger wind gusts were more localized and over a much shorter duration.
Peak wind gusts included:  93 mph near Lyons; 88 mph at NCAR Mesa Lab; 85 mph, 2 miles southwest of Rocky Flats; 82 mph, 5 miles northwest of Boulder; 81 mph, 2 miles north of Longmont, 4 miles east-northeast of Nederland, the National Wind Technology Center and near Wondervu; 80 mph at the Junction of Highways 72 and 93; 79 mph at the Boulder Municipal Airport; 78 mph, 6 miles northwest of Boulder and atop Loveland Pass; 77 mph at Rocky Mountain Municipal Airport; 76 mph atop Berthoud Pass; 75 mph near Aspen Springs; 73 mph, 5 miles northeast of Hoyt; 70 mph at Longmont Municipal Airport; 64 mph at Erie Municipal Airport; 63 mph at Sterling; 62 mph, 8 miles south-southwest of Grover; and 60 mph, 3 miles west of New Raymer.

High Wind in S & E JACKSON / LARIMER / N & NE GRAND / NW BOULDER COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 21-FEB-12 23:00:00 to 23-FEB-12 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 65.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in JEFFERSON & W DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET / GILPIN / CLEAR CREEK / NE PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 21-FEB-12 23:00:00 to 23-FEB-12 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 74.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / NW WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 21-FEB-12 23:00:00 to 22-FEB-12 23:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in BOULDER & JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET / W BROOMFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 21-FEB-12 23:00:00 to 22-FEB-12 23:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in C & S WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 22-FEB-12 16:55:00 to 22-FEB-12 18:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in LOGAN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 22-FEB-12 10:00:00 to 22-FEB-12 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in MORGAN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 22-FEB-12 10:00:00 to 22-FEB-12 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in S & SE GRAND / W CENTRAL & SW BOULDER / GILPIN / CLEAR CREEK / SUMMIT / N & W PARK COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 21-FEB-12 23:00:00 to 23-FEB-12 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 68.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet