Hanson stressed that it is not uncommon for Colorado’s Front Range to experience high wind days, especially in the colder months. When Rocky Mountain PBS interviewed Hanson on January 4, the winds were in the 80s and 90s in some parts of the state. But the day of the fire, the wind was unusually fast. Winds over 100 miles per hour are “on the high end of what we see,” Hanson said. “Typically, it's going to be 70, 80 miles an hour.”

Though there is always a risk for damage with winds of that speed, especially for motorists driving large trucks, the weather becomes especially dangerous when paired with conditions like drought and fire.

Experts point to climate change as a reason wildfire season has extended later in the year.

Merritt Turetsky, Ph.D., is the director of CU Boulder’s Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. The day of the Marshall Fire, she posted the following on Twitter:

Becky Bolinger, a climatologist at Colorado State University’s Colorado Climate Center, told The Colorado Sun that the Marshall Fire “is an unfortunate reminder that a lot of us are living in that zone and with climate change, these kinds of events will remain an ongoing issue.”

When it comes to wind, however, Hanson told Rocky Mountain PBS that it is unclear if Colorado is experiencing more high wind events than usual. “That’s something we don’t track regularly,” he said. One of the most important things, Hanson said, is to be prepared.

Experts recommend having a "go bag" at the ready in case of emergencies like damaging winds and wildfires. Below are some of the recommended items to include:

“The safety aspect of it is a big part of it,” he said. “We know that [high winds] can drive wildfires when we've been very dry. So have that go bag ready, take pictures of everything in your house for insurance purposes, that sort of thing. If you're in an area that's more prone to these winds, be ready for power outages. Have a flashlight, have a battery-operated radio to get information. Make sure your devices are all charged up all the time. Watch the forecast.”

Downed power lines are also a danger. "Treat every downed power line like it's live," Hanson said. "Call the power company and get them to come out. And obey what they're telling you: if roads are closed, trees are down, power lines down, find another way home."

[Related: 6 ways to get ready for a wildfire]

During the Marshall Fire, the NWS Boulder office posted regular updates for Coloradans. You can follow their account here.

Brian Willie is the content production manager at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at brianwillie@rmpbs.org.

Kyle Cooke is the digital media manager at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at kylecooke@rmpbs.org.