Does Denver really get wildfires?

Yes — and they are no longer just a summer mountain problem. The Marshall Fire on December 30, 2021 was a wind-driven grassfire in Boulder County just northwest of Denver that destroyed about 1,084 homes and structures in a single afternoon, making it the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history. A grab-and-go evacuation bag is core to Denver-area preparedness.

Why is hail such a big deal in Denver?

Denver sits in 'Hail Alley,' where the High Plains meet the Rockies and produce some of the most frequent large hail on Earth. The May 8, 2017 hailstorm caused $2.3 billion in insured losses across the metro — the costliest catastrophe in Colorado history. Peak hail season runs May through July.

What should be in a Denver winter emergency kit?

Plan for blizzards that can close I-25 and I-70 and knock out power: 3–7 days of water, food, and medications; warm layers and blankets; a NOAA weather radio; and a separate winter survival kit in your car (blanket, food, traction aids). The March 2021 blizzard dropped 27.1 inches on Denver — its fourth-largest snowstorm on record.

Is flooding a risk in the Denver area?

Yes, especially flash flooding. In September 2013, historic rains caused the Front Range floods across Boulder and Larimer counties just north of Denver, killing 8 people and destroying more than 1,500 homes. Wildfire burn scars raise flash-flood risk further, so watch for flood warnings from late spring through summer.

Denver, United States

Denver Emergency Kit — Personalized for Your Risks

Denver sits where the Great Plains slam into the Rockies — a collision zone that produces the costliest hailstorms in the country, paralyzing blizzards, and wind-driven wildfires that now burn in December.

Primary Risks for Denver

Wildfire
Hail
Blizzard

Key takeaways for Denver

Primary risks: Wildfire, Hail, Blizzard
Plan for: Build for fire and ice at once — a grab-and-go wildfire bag plus 3–7 days of blizzard supplies, a way to stay warm without power, and a NOAA weather radio.
Read more: Denver Office of Emergency Management

What you'll get

Denver-specific risk analysis: AI-powered analysis of disaster risks specific to Denver and your exact address.
Personalized kit list: Emergency supplies tailored to your household size, pets, and home type.
Direct purchase links: One-click links to buy every item in your personalized kit.
Emergency action guide: Step-by-step instructions for each disaster type common in Denver.

Denver Risk Briefing

Local Hazard History

The Front Range packs four very different disasters into one metro. Wildfire is no longer just a summer mountain threat: the Marshall Fire (December 30, 2021) — a grassfire driven by downslope winds gusting over 100 mph through Boulder County, just northwest of Denver — destroyed roughly 1,084 homes and structures in a matter of hours, making it the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history. Denver also sits in "Hail Alley," one of the most hail-prone regions on Earth: the May 8, 2017 hailstorm that battered the metro caused $2.3 billion in insured losses, still the costliest catastrophe in state history. Blizzards routinely shut the region down — the March 13–14, 2021 blizzard dropped 27.1 inches of snow on Denver, its fourth-largest snowstorm on record. And in September 2013, historic rains triggered the Front Range floods across Boulder and Larimer counties just north of the city — up to 17+ inches of rain, 8 deaths, and more than 1,500 homes destroyed — proof that flash flooding off the foothills and burn scars belongs on every Denver-area kit list.

When Risk Peaks

Jun–Sep: Wildfire season in the foothills and grasslands (though wind events can spark grassfires in any month, even winter)
Apr–Aug: Hail and severe-thunderstorm season; the largest hail is most common May–July
May–Aug: Flash-flood risk in canyons, foothills, and wildfire burn scars
Oct–Apr: Blizzards, heavy snow, and rapid temperature crashes that strand drivers on I-25 and I-70
Year-round: High-wind events — downslope Chinook winds (the Marshall Fire was driven by gusts over 100 mph) can drive both fast-moving fire and whiteout snow

What to Pack for Denver

Denver's mix of fire, ice, and hail means building for fast evacuation and shelter-in-place:

A wildfire go-bag ready to grab — the Marshall Fire gave many residents minutes, not hours, to get out
3–7 days of water, food, and medications for blizzards that close I-25 and I-70 and strand the metro
Warm layers, blankets, and a way to stay warm without power during winter outages
A NOAA weather radio for blizzard warnings, fire-weather watches, and flash-flood alerts
Know your evacuation zones and two routes out — high wind can move a grassfire faster than you can pack
A winter survival kit in your vehicle (blanket, food, traction aids) — Front Range blizzards routinely strand drivers on the interstates

Local Resources

Denver Office of Emergency Management — City & County of Denver preparedness, alerts, and evacuation planning.
Colorado Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (DHSEM) — Statewide hazard information, wildfire and flood resources, and alerts.
NWS Boulder/Denver — Local forecasts, blizzard warnings, fire-weather watches, and flash-flood alerts.

Other locations

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