The Denver area can expect record and near-record heat to persist through Christmas, according to the National Weather Service.
Temperatures in Denver are forecast to hit 73 degrees on Monday, breaking the current 70-degree record set in 1955, according to weather service records.
Other metro-area forecasts for the week, according to the weather service, include “above normal” temperature highs of:
- 66 degrees on Tuesday, seven degrees below the 73-degree record set in 1901;
- 67 degrees on Christmas Eve, three degrees below the 70-degree record set in 1955;
- And 67 degrees on Christmas, two degrees below the 69-degree record set in 2005.
Critical fire weather will return Monday across the Front Range west and south of Denver, prompting red flag warnings and fire weather watches, according to the weather service.
Warm temperatures, humidities as low as 8% and gusty winds between 45 mph and 60 mph will be possible west of Denver from the Colorado-Wyoming border to Lake George, and south of Denver to Castle Rock and Kiowa, forecasters said.
Winds will peak in the afternoon, but the fire weather watch will be active from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, according to the weather service.
Several other cities are expected to break or tie heat records on Monday, forecasters said. Daily temperature highs include:
- 71 degrees in Boulder, which would tie the record set in 1933;
- 70 degrees in Castle Rock, which would break the 69-degree record set in 2024;
- 58 degrees in Estes Park, which would break the 56-degree record set in 2024;
- 66 degrees in Evergreen, which would break the 63-degree record set in 2024;
- 68 degrees in Greeley, which would break the 65-degree record set in 2021;
- 71 degrees in Julesburg on the Eastern Plains, which would break the 70-degree record set in 1955;
- And 72 degrees in Limon, which would tie the record set in 1955.
Warm, dry weather is expected throughout the week, including Christmas Day, across the Denver area and Eastern Plains, according to a hazardous weather outlook from the weather service.
The chance for snow returns to the mountains on Christmas Day and will linger into Friday and Saturday, forecasters said in the outlook. Mountain snow could start as early as 11 p.m. Wednesday, according to hourly forecasts from the weather service.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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