From the 70s to snow as sharp cold front snaps Colorado's warm stretch
After a stretch of warm spring weather, a fast-moving system is bringing a dramatic temperature swing to Colorado.
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First Alert Meteorologist Alex Lehnert grew up in Greeley, Colorado, but moved away after college and is now very excited about being home and working in the First Alert Weather Center.
"This Colorado girl is finally back!" she said on her first day at work at CBS News Colorado in 2023.
After graduating from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism, Alex started walking down the path toward her dream.
She kicked off her career in Casper, Wyoming (KTWO-TV) where she worked as a reporter, anchor, producer, editor, weather forecaster -- you name it. From Wyoming, she moved to Fresno, California (KMPH-TV) where she worked as a weather forecaster and reporter. After spending a few years in sunny and warm California, Alex made the move to the bold north of Minnesota, where she worked at KMSP-TV in Minneapolis as a Weekend Meteorologist for five years.
While in Minneapolis, Alex attended Mississippi State University, receiving her Certificate in Broadcast Meteorology.
Minnesota is also where she met her husband, where her first son was born, and where her love of the water really grew. (It is the "land of 10,000 lakes" after all.)
When she's not forecasting, Alex loves to spend time with her family. She loves to get out and about with her son, including hitting the slopes in the winter. Her family is also quite passionate about pickleball. ("Family holiday tournaments can get quite heated!" she said.)
Just The Facts
Alma mater: University of Colorado -- Sko Buffs!
Most memorable interview: Billy Bob Thornton
Role model: My momma
Dream job: This one.
Job you would never attempt: Beekeeper
Star sign: Leo
First TV appearance: An interview at my college graduation
What are you listening to? Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Old Dominion
Hometown: Greeley
Hobbies: When I'm in the right frame of mind, I consider myself an excellent organizer. Also, painting while sipping on a glass of wine and listening to jazz music. And anything with my son.
Favorite food: Baguette and butter... but it must be good butter. Preferably with crystalized salt on top.
Number of siblings: 3
Number of pets: One. An oversized Yorkie named Finley
Favorite sports team: The Broncos, the Buffs, and the Vikings (by marriage)
Favorite author: Paulo Coelho
Favorite vacation spot: Sint Maarten for the beaches and the memories, Italy for the wine and the countryside.
Least favorite household chore: Taking out the diaper pail.
Favorite word: Quintessential
Favorite noise: My son's laugh
Least favorite noise: My dog's nails on the garage floor
What keeps you in Colorado? Family! And it doesn't hurt that it's gorgeous here.
What's the biggest risk you've taken? Leaving one internship in college for another potential internship at a television station. I think it worked out.
You can contact Alex by sending an email to yourreporter@cbs.com.
After a stretch of warm spring weather, a fast-moving system is bringing a dramatic temperature swing to Colorado.
Thursday will bring warm and windy conditions, leading to Red Flag Warnings across most of Eastern Colorado and the Front Range before a big change with snow on Friday.
The first system is bringing light snow accumulations to the Front Range and Colorado's mountains on Tuesday.
It's a classic Colorado spring pattern this week, starting with high fire danger, then swinging into rain and even snow chances by the end of the week.
This week in our A-to-Z series, CBS Colorado and the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance are highlighting the letter "C" for Conservation.
Winds could gust as high as 45 mph today. A red flag warning is in place across a large section of the state.
Windy, dry conditions combined with temps that will rise to around 80 mean fire danger is high for Colorado.
In this week's edition of CBS Colorado's A-to-Z with Alex Lehnert series, we spotlight the letter B, for Boreal Toad. They may be small, but they have a big story.
High temperatures on Wednesday are expected to climb to around 90 degrees, putting Denver in a position to challenge, and potentially set, an all-time record high for March.
An unseasonably intense heat wave is building across Colorado, and the focus isn't only on the temperatures, but the fire danger that comes with it.
CBS Colorado's First Alert Meteorologist Alex Lehnert kicks off a new behind-the-scenes series at the Denver Zoo.
We've unfortunately become all too familiar with the warm, windy, and dry conditions throughout Colorado's winter. And for yet another week, elevated and critical fire weather conditions are returning.
As of Friday morning, winds were already gusting around 60 mph in parts of Northern Colorado ahead of a blustery end to the work week.
Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches are going into effect starting Thursday, and the setup is one to keep an eye on.
Where the storm sets up, and how quickly it arrives, will determine just how much snow will fall along the Front Range. Right now, Denver is on track to receive between 2-4" of snow.