Fire danger stays high as Winter storm looms over Colorado
Colorado is heading into a huge weather shift this weekend that will include yet another day of critical fire threat right into a windy, blast of cold air and snow.
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First Alert Chief Meteorologist Dave Aguilera grew up in Colorado. He is an Emmy Award winner who was born in Pueblo. He has worked in every television market in the state and has been at CBS Colorado a long time .. since 1993!
Having lived through and reported on many major weather events, including everything from droughts and floods to blizzards and tornadoes and has seen how the weather deeply affects people. He has been a TV and Radio broadcaster in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region since 1986.
He is, perhaps foremost, an optimist, which is a good thing to be when people tend to blame you for the bad weather. But no matter what the sky is doing, Dave looks forward to coming to work, and he always tries to bring a little sunshine into the lives of his audience, no matter what it's doing outside.
As far back as his senior year in high school, Dave knew he wanted to work in television, but he assumed it would be delivering news. After graduating in 1987 from Colorado State University/Pueblo (formerly University of Southern Colorado) with a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communications/journalism, he found his direction shifting. His interests were definitely looking up - literally. Everything Dave wanted to know was now in the sky. He went on to earn a Certificate in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University.
He holds the American Meteorological Society's Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) designation, a professional recognition of the quality of his weather broadcasts. Among radio and television meteorologists, the CBM designation is sought as a mark of distinction and recognition.
Dave is a member of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorology Society and holds the Television Seal of Approval from both organizations.
Dave has won several Heartland Regional Emmys and Colorado Broadcasters Association Meteorologist of the Year.
Dave has worked as a weather anchor at KRQE-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico; KOAA-TV in Pueblo/Colorado Springs, Colorado; and at KREX-TV in Grand Junction, Colorado. He also worked as a news reporter/anchor for KHOW-Radio and KOA-Radio in Denver, and as a Disc Jockey for KCCY, KRYT and KDZA, in Pueblo. In September 1993, Dave accomplished the goal he had set for himself in college by joining CBS News Colorado as a meteorologist.
Dave participates in and emcees numerous fundraising events for nonprofit groups throughout the year. He feels the community has given him so much and this is his way to give back.
In fact, in 2018 Dave was inducted into the Pueblo South High School Hall of Fame for his work in broadcasting and helping the community.
His hopes for the future are to continue to work for CBS News Colorado. Living in Denver, which he thinks is the "greatest city in the country," means playing golf when the weather is nice, skiing when it's snowing, and giving people the First Alert when the weather gets rough.
Just The Facts
Role model: My mother
Dream job: Indy race car driver
What keeps you in Colorado? This is home, born & raised here
Alma Mater: Colorado State University - Pueblo, Mississippi State University, Starkville
Star sign: Leo
Year hired: 1993
First TV appearance: 1987, KOAA-TV, Pueblo
Hobbies: Golf, racquetball, coaching his kids basketball, football and soccer teams
Favorite food: Anything on my plate
Favorite musicians: Jon Batiste, Carlos Santana, Billy Joel
Favorite sports team: Denver Broncos
Favorite vacation spot: Disney World
Favorite word: Graupel
Favorite noise: Rain on the roof
You can contact Dave by sending an email to yourreporter@cbs.com.
Colorado is heading into a huge weather shift this weekend that will include yet another day of critical fire threat right into a windy, blast of cold air and snow.
Our prolonged period of strong winds and critical fire danger rolls on for Friday for day number two of a three day threat. Warm temperatures, dry air and super, gusty winds will team up again for a First Alert Weather Day that creates ideal conditions for rapid wildfire spread.
Fire danger is surging back into the weather picture for the rest of the week right on into the start of the weekend. Thursday is a First Alert Weather Day for the return of critical fire weather conditions across most of eastern Colorado including Denver and areas near the base of the Front Range foothills.
A cold front will slide in overnight and bring cooler air and snow. Expect a slick morning commute in the Denver metro area and a snowy afternoon on Friday.
A First Alert Weather Day is in place for Tuesday for a cool down and much needed chance for rain.
Early risers on Tuesday morning will be in for a rare celestial event over the Colorado skies. As long as our expected Tuesday storm clouds can hold off, skywatchers will be able to get a glimpse of a total lunar eclipse known as a "Blood Moon".
Friday is a First Alert Weather Day for the return of the triple threat of strong winds, extremely low humidity and very warm temperatures in the Denver metro area and parts of the Eastern Plains.
Wednesday is a First Alert Weather Day as the triple threat of unseasonably warm temperatures, strong downslope winds and extremely low humidity levels appear once again across the region.
Another dramatic split of fire danger and heavy mountain snow is rolling in this week.
The third storm of the week blasts through Colorado on Friday, bringing in much colder temperatures and more snow.
The second of three storm systems training over the Rockies this week blasts through Wednesday night into Thursday morning. More strong winds and mountain snow are expected.
Colorado will be blasted with the threat of fire and ice this week as a major Winter storm takes aim on the Rockies.
Dangerously cold temperatures have moved into Colorado and most people in the state should be ready for more accumulating snowfall.
The Polar Plunge is here and will be sticking around for several days.
The Arctic Express will surge into Colorado along with a moist, Pacific cut-off low producing a prolonged multi-day bout with snow and extreme cold.