Denver Metro Area Situation Report | 03.26.2025

Your Weekly Email from The CP Journal’s Watch Office

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Here are the highlights of the week ahead. Scroll down for a deeper analysis and the sources of information for any specific section:

• Weather (Elevated ↑): Unseasonably warm and dry conditions with record highs and gusty winds mid-week are expected to elevate fire danger, especially on Friday, when critical thresholds may be met.

• Events and Protests (Moderate →): Multiple large gatherings, including teacher rallies at the Capitol, Trans Visibility events, César Chávez marches, and overlapping sports games, will impact traffic and require coordination.

• Health and Medical (Elevated →): High flu-related hospitalizations continue but are declining. COVID-19 remains at low activity levels, and healthcare capacity is adequate. Pertussis and norovirus outbreaks persist.

• Crime (Moderate →): Crime levels are steady; two homicides (including an officer-involved shooting) occurred this week. Vehicle theft is trending down statewide, but theft hotspots remain.

• Cybersecurity (Moderate →): Ongoing phishing scams (fake toll messages, malicious file converters) and ransomware threats are being tracked, though no major local incidents occurred this week.

• Critical Infrastructure (Low →): No major outages reported; utilities are stable. Kennedy Expressway lane closures are causing substantial travel delays. Roadwork on I-25 near Mead and local detours are ongoing.

• Upcoming Events: Prepare for large crowds at Rockies Opening Day (Apr 4), 4/20 gatherings at Civic Center, and the Denver Jazz Fest (Apr 3–6). Monitor for spring severe weather, increased wildfire risk from dry conditions, and minor flood potential from snowmelt. Public health concerns may shift from flu to allergies and air quality later in April.

Did we miss something? If there is a significant event or element we missed in this report, drop a comment below (with a link to the source) to help others stay informed.

Remember, this report is intended for situational awareness, and readers should validate any information before acting.

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In-Depth Analysis

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Weather (Risk: Elevated ↑)

• 7-Day Forecast: Expect an unusually warm and mostly dry week, with record-high temperatures in the upper 70sThu/Fri​. Wed–Thu could hit ~80°F (15–20°F above normal) under a strong high-pressure ridge. A pattern change late Fri into the weekend brings a 30–40% chance of rain showers across the plains and light mountain snow. Overall precipitation probabilities are modest (generally 20–40% this weekend). No winter storms are expected; instead, rainfall totals under 0.25" are anticipated in lower elevations (higher foothills may see a dusting of snow).

• Alerts & Fire Weather: No active NWS advisories for Denver now (no winter or flood warnings). However, near-critical fire weather conditions will emerge Friday with low humidity and increasing winds. The NWS Hazardous Outlook notes gusts of 35–50 mph and very dry air, raising fire danger especially on the plains​. A Red Flag Warning is possible if winds/humidity meet criteria (one was issued last Saturday amid similar conditions​). The foothills remain snow-covered, but warm temps and sun heighten avalanche risk at higher elevations – an Avalanche Warning is in effect for some Colorado mountain zones (backcountry avalanche danger MODERATE or higher)​

• Temperature & Wind Trends: Daytime highs will soar 15–20°F above normal midweek (Denver normals ~58°F)​. Forecast highs: Wed ~75°F, Thu ~79°F, Fri ~76°F​. Overnight lows stay mild (~40s°F). Early-week chinook winds brought gusts of 30–40 mph on Monday (no damage reported)​. Lighter winds prevail Tue–Thu, then a cold front Friday brings breezy N winds 15–25 mph and cooler highs (~65°F by Sunday). No severe thunderstorms are expected, but an isolated thunderstorm with brief gusty winds is possible Friday PM. (The Storm Prediction Center shows no organized severe risk for CO this week.)

• Precipitation & Drought: Aside from a few late-week showers, dry conditions dominate the next 5 days. The weekend system has a ~20% chance to produce a thunderstorm Friday evening​ and scattered light rain Saturday (0.1–0.2" if any). March has been much drier than normal, so drought conditions are expanding on the Eastern Plains (Denver year-to-date precip is under 50% of average). The Climate Prediction Center 8–14 day outlook favors above-normal warmth and below-normal precipitation for Colorado. This pattern will maintain elevated fire danger until moisture increases.

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Events & Protests (Risk: Moderate →)

• Major Gatherings: Several large public events across the metro will require coordination. Thursday 3/27 – Statewide Teacher Rally at the Colorado Capitol is expected to draw ~3,000 educators at midday. At least 4 school districts canceled classes to allow teacher participation. Anticipate street closures around Lincoln/Broadway and Colfax from 11 am–2 pm; DPD and CSP will manage traffic diversions. No counter-protests were reported. Saturday 3/29 – The annual César Chávez Day Marcha in northwest Denver (Regis Univ to Chávez Park) will begin ~9:30am. Several hundred are expected to march in honor of the labor leader; minimal traffic impact (police rolling closures along W. 51st, Tennyson St.). Monday 3/31 – Transgender Day of Visibility events are planned on the Auraria Campus (2–4 pm Tivoli quad). This is a celebratory gathering with campus security present; no disruptions are anticipated.

• Political Protests: No large-scale demonstrations are scheduled in Denver this week, but community advocacy continues. On Wed 3/26 unionized EPA employees and supporters will rally at noon outside the EPA Region 8 HQ (1550 Wewatta St) to protest federal return-to-office policies (“Let Us Work” rally)​. ~150 participants (AFGE Local 3607) are expected; no permits required for that plaza. Separately, local activist groups remain energized after last month’s nationwide anti-Project 2025 protests. While no repeat is slated this week, be aware of residual small protests (e.g., immigration justice vigils at GEO Aurora on Monday nights). The situation is stable – social media monitoring shows no credible threats of unrest.

• Sporting Events & Crowds: It’s a busy sports week downtown. The Colorado Avalanche have three home games at Ball Arena: Thu 3/27 (7:00 pm vs LA Kings), Sat 3/29 (2:30 pm vs Blues), and Mon 3/31 (6:30 pm vs Flames). Each will draw ~18,000 fans. The Denver Nuggets also play at Ball Arena on Wed 3/26 (7:00 pm vs Bucks), Fri 3/28 (7:00 pm vs Jazz), and Tue 4/1 (8:00 pm vs Timberwolves). Evening games will cause heavy traffic on I-25 and downtown arteries (especially 5:30–7 pm ingress). No major incidents are expected beyond typical congestion. Elsewhere, the Boulder International Film Festival runs Mar 28–31, but that’s Boulder-specific (just note increased Pearl St foot traffic). The overall event risk is moderate and steady.

• International/Other Influences: No significant international triggers for local protest have arisen this week. Ongoing Middle East events have prompted periodic pro-Palestine vigils in Denver, but none are formally scheduled now. The war in Ukraine and other global issues remain stable in terms of Denver activism. One notable item: the Colorado GOP’s annual dinner featuring Steve Bannon (originally set for Mar 28) was canceled by venues after public outcry. The party is scrambling for a future location, but any rescheduled event may draw protesters. We will monitor if it gets reset in the coming month.

• Traffic & Transit Impacts: Aside from Ball Arena events, watch for roadwork: CDOT will close the I-25 Homestead Rd on-ramp near Mead overnight Mar 26–27​ (far north of Denver; minimal local impact). Within the city, the Colfax Marathon course announcement (race in May) has prompted advance planning for street closures – but no closures this week. RTD reports normal operations; however, on rally Thursday, some detours on the 16th St Mall Shuttle and Colfax bus routes will occur during the teacher protest (temporary reroutes on Civic Center station stops). Denver International Airport has no large demonstrations or disruptive incidents; passenger volumes are average for the spring break week.

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Health & Medical (Risk: Elevated →)

• Communicable Disease Trends: The region is navigating a multi-respiratory illness season. Influenza activity remains high (one of the worst flu seasons in 20 years statewide). Nearly 500 patients are currently hospitalized in Colorado for respiratory viruses – over 200 for flu and ~60 for COVID-19​ (the rest mostly RSV) – but this combined census is lower than the winter peak. Flu positivity and admissions have declined about 50% from the February peak, indicating we’re past the worst, though weekly flu hospitalizations (~150+) still exceed last year’s rates. COVID-19 levels are relatively low and stable: only a few dozen statewide hospitalizations (compared to hundreds in prior winters). Test positivity in Denver County hovers at ~5-7%. No new COVID variants of concern have emerged locally; CDC Community Level is Low.

• Healthcare Capacity: Hospitals report adequate capacity. Metro ER wait times average 15–30 minutes for urgent cases, with no facilities on divert status as of this report. ICU bed occupancy is ~78% region-wide, mainly due to non-COVID cases (cardiac, trauma, flu pneumonia). Staffing is improved from earlier in the pandemic – healthcare systems have adapted surge protocols (e.g., flexible nurse staffing) to handle the high flu volume. Some elective surgeries are being rescheduled to free beds, but no crisis standards are active (the state rescinded crisis care declarations last year). Pediatric hospitals are seeing fewer RSV cases now (RSV spike has subsided since January), though they note an uptick in pertussis (whooping cough) cases among kids. Two pertussis outbreaks in metro-area schools were reported this month. Public health is responding with exposure notices and antibiotic prophylaxis for close contacts.

• Other Public Health Concerns: Norovirus and other GI illnesses are surging in congregate settings. Jefferson County saw 8 norovirus outbreaks in January alone (vs 0–3 typical), and Denver has logged 13 suspected GI outbreaks since the New Year. This “stomach flu” trend is above average. Health officials advise rigorous disinfection in schools, daycares, and long-term care facilities. Meanwhile, state officials are on alert for measles after outbreaks in Texas/New Mexico – no measles cases in Colorado yet, but MMR vaccination rates around Denver (~90–92%) are shy of the ideal 95% herd immunity threshold​.. Also, air quality and environmental health remain satisfactory: air quality index (AQI) is Good–Moderate with no pollution advisories currently. There are no boil-water advisories or contamination alerts in any metro water districts – Denver Water’s latest report confirms drinking water meets all standards.

• EMS & 911 System: EMS call volumes are normal for this time of year (~5% above the 5-year average, partly due to more respiratory calls). There are no extraordinary strain indicators in the 911 system. Average ambulance response times in Denver are ~8 minutes for Priority 1. Agencies are in a steady state, though EMS crews are reminded to use appropriate PPE on respiratory calls (flu and COVID are still circulating). The 911 center notes an increase in calls related to synthetic cannabinoids (spice) overdoses in some parks; Denver Public Health is investigating a possible bad batch causing adverse reactions (non-fatal). Otherwise, opioid overdose numbers are unchanged – naloxone leave-behind programs continue.

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Crime & Public Safety (Risk: Moderate →)

• Violent Crime: Denver saw two high-profile shootings late last week. On Mar 20, a woman was shot and killed at Bruce Randolph Ave & N. Gaylord St. in the Whittier neighborhood. This is now an active homicide investigation – DPD has no suspect in custody yet and is canvassing for witnesses and video. About 4 hours prior and ~0.5 mile away, Denver police officers shot and killed an armed 36-year-old man in an alley in the Cole area after he allegedly pointed a weapon and refused orders to drop it. The man (suspected to have a replica handgun) died at the scene; the incident is under review by the Use of Force team. These incidents highlight ongoing gun violence concerns but appear unrelated (one was a domestic dispute, the other an officer-involved shooting). Elsewhere in the metro, Aurora PD solved a homicide: a 45-year-old mother and her 24-year-old son were arrested on Mar 22, charged with murdering the mother’s boyfriend during a domestic altercation in Aurora last week. The victim, a 37-year-old male, was shot after an argument; the suspects are in custody with charges pending DA review. Overall, violent crime levels are comparable to last week – no significant uptick in homicides or assaults beyond these isolated cases.

• Crime Trends: Year-to-date homicides in Denver stand at 18 (on par with this time last year). Non-fatal shootings are slightly up by ~5%, concentrated in a few hotspot areas (Montbello, Westwood). Police are deploying extra patrols in those neighborhoods on weekend nights. Meanwhile, property crime shows a mixed but improving picture. Motor vehicle thefts have declined markedly: Colorado auto thefts dropped 25% in early 2025 compared to early 2024, thanks to new task forces and prevention efforts. Denver mirrors this trend – February saw a ~23% year-over-year reduction in stolen vehicles (Denver still averages ~45 car thefts per week, but that’s down from 60+/week last year). Catalytic converter thefts, however, persist (an organized crew hit a Park-n-Ride in Aurora, cutting converters from 8 vehicles overnight). Law enforcement is using new state anti-theft grant funds to distribute steering wheel locks and etch VINs on converters. Burglary rates are steady; one notable case: a spree of smash-and-grab burglaries at south Denver restaurants resulted in 4 arrests on Mar 25, recovering stolen cash and property.

• Notable Incidents: No major public disorder incidents occurred at last week’s Bernie Sanders/AOC rally (which drew 34,000 peacefully)​. We did have a scare at Denver West High on Mar 5 when an 18-year-old student was shot in the leg outside the school in a drive-by (non-life-threatening)​. DPD’s School Resource Officer program (recently reinstated) helped secure the scene; that investigation is ongoing (believed gang-related, victim uncooperative). Additionally, Denver PD is working a strange arson case: two small fires were intentionally set in trash bins behind businesses on South Broadway on Mar 23. Damage was minor and no one hurt, but arson detectives are reviewing CCTV. It’s unclear if it’s a prank or attempted diversion for another crime. Continue vigilance for suspicious fires.

• Public Safety Initiatives: The Denver Police Chief announced a summer violence reduction strategy earlier than usual, starting in April, due to the early warm weather potentially extending the typical “crime season.” This includes reassigning 20 officers to high-crime hot spots during peak hours and partnering with outreach teams for conflict mediation. Community groups are organizing a gun buyback on April 13 in Park Hill – DPD will support with security. In positive news, traffic fatalities are down 10% year-to-date (13 vs 15 by this time last year). DUI enforcement ramps up this weekend (St. Patrick’s Day stats: 112 DUI arrests statewide, down from 150 in 2024). The new speed cameras around parks have issued warnings this month and will start ticketing on April 1.

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Cybersecurity (Risk: Moderate →)

• Current Threats: Cyber analysts note no major new attacks on local government networks this week, but a flurry of scams and vulnerabilities are targeting Colorado residents and agencies. The FBI’s Denver Field Office warns of a surge in “free file converter” malware scams. Criminals set up websites offering to convert documents (e.g., Word to PDF) or download media; when users upload files or run the downloaded file, malware is installed, potentially leading to ransomware or data theft. Several Coloradans have reported infections traced to these sites. Additionally, a widespread “toll road smishing” scam is hitting cell phones nationwide, including here. People receive fake text messages claiming unpaid highway tolls (e.g., E-470 ExpressToll), with a link to pay. Do not click: CDOT confirms it never texts toll bills. These SMS phishing attacks aim to steal credit card info. Palo Alto Networks reports over 10,000 domains created to impersonate toll authorities and package delivery services in at least 10 states (including Colorado). The scams are prolific but preventable with user education.

• Advisories & Patches: Multiple important software patches were released this week. Microsoft’s March security update includes fixes for Exchange Server and Windows that have known exploits – all government and partner IT teams should ensure these patches are applied promptly. Also, a reminder that as of April 1, any systems running Windows 8.1 will fall out of extended support; plan to upgrade to maintain security. Phishing attempts continue to target municipal employees: a convincing fake email appearing to be from a city procurement officer was reported in Arapahoe County – it asked to confirm a wire transfer. Fortunately, the staff recognized the slightly misspelled domain. These social engineering attempts are constant, so vigilance is key.

• Incidents: No new ransomware attacks on local governments were reported this week (the last significant one was the Wheat Ridge Library attack in January, now resolved). Law enforcement cyber units also caution about a resurgence of the “bank impersonation” phone scam in Colorado Springs – victims get calls claiming to be from their bank’s fraud dept, but it’s scammers seeking account access. Public awareness can thwart these.

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Critical Infrastructure (Risk: Low →)

• Utilities – Power & Gas: The electric grid is stable, with no significant outages ongoing. Xcel Energy reports normal operations; peak demand is moderate given mild weather (no heating or cooling spikes). There was a notable outage earlier this month in northeast Colorado Springs where ~2,000 customers lost power for a few hours (Mar 5)​, cause unknown but resolved quickly. Currently in the Denver metro, outage maps show <100 customers out across scattered maintenance projects – nothing widespread. Natural gas supply is plentiful, and with warmer temps, gas usage is down. No gas leaks of note. Water: Denver Water and suburban districts report normal water treatment and distribution. Snowpack remains healthy in the mountains, so no immediate drought concerns for water supply. Some utility crews are doing annual hydrant flushing in Arapahoe County neighborhoods, which can cause temporary water discoloration – public notices have gone out. Telecom: One cell tower maintenance in Lakewood caused spotty mobile service last Tuesday, but that was brief.

• Transportation – Roads: The highway network is fully open, and major construction is the main source of disruptions. On I-25 near Mead (N of Erie), CDOT will implement overnight closures this week for bridge installation. Specifically, southbound I-25 at Weld County Road 34 closes 9 pm–5 am on Mar 26, with detour routes posted. Also, WCR 34 over I-25 and the east frontage road will shut down March 26–27 nights. These closures are outside the immediate metro but could affect late-night I-25 thru-travel (drivers to be detoured off at Exit 245). Closer to Denver: Central 70 project – the new express lanes through the I-70 corridor are open in testing mode. Some daytime ramp closures on I-70 at Homestead Rd (Exit 247) are scheduled Mar 25–27 for ramp tie-in work​. Off-peak lane closures continue on C-470 for the Trail widening project. No weather closures are expected this week (all routes clear of snow/ice). Transit: RTD light rail and buses are running normal schedules. One item: RTD’s L Line (Five Points) will have a weekend shutdown Apr 6–7 for maintenance – not this week, but alerting agencies for planning (bus shuttles to replace service).

• Emergency Services & 911: All police, fire, EMS agencies report full operational readiness. No resource shortfalls or mutual aid requests currently active. Denver Fire is at normal staffing; wildland teams are prepping apparatus given the fire weather (but none deployed yet). The regional mutual aid radio system (DTAC) was tested on Mar 24 and functioned properly across jurisdictions. Fire stations: DFD had a minor issue at Station 8 (heating system failure), but that’s being fixed – no impact on response. 911 Center: The new CAD upgrade went live smoothly last week at Denver 911, improving dispatch efficiency. Airports: Denver International Airport and Centennial Airport have all critical systems normal – no fuel shortages, backup power tested OK. TSA lines are moderate (~15 min) as spring break travel peaks. No significant delays or incidents at DIA, aside from some general aviation GPS jamming tests by the FAA this week (communicated to pilots). Supply Chain: No acute shortages reported; grocery and fuel supply are steady. One watch item: national rail unions are in negotiations – a strike is not imminent, but if talks falter in coming weeks, it could impact freight lines into Colorado. We’ll monitor; for now, freight (food, goods, fuel) is moving without issue.

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