Denver woke up to clear, dry skies Thursday and is expected to soar into the mid 80s this afternoon before a sharp flip later in the day. A cold front is set to sweep through by mid-afternoon, turning winds gusty and knocking temperatures down by evening. It is shaping up to be a day that starts warm and sunny and ends much cooler and blustery, so a quick wardrobe change will likely be in order.
Afternoon Winds And Fire Weather
Southwest winds will strengthen through the morning, then swing around to the northeast once the front passes. Gusts could jump into the 30s and even the low 40s as the boundary moves through. That wind, paired with very low humidity, has triggered a Red Flag Warning for South Park and parts of far eastern Elbert and southern Lincoln counties from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday. Outdoor burning is a bad idea, and anything that throws sparks should be handled with extra care. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service note that fuels are dry enough that any lightning or stray spark could spread quickly.
Late Night Showers And Cooler Friday
Rain showers are likely from late Thursday evening into Friday morning, with the foothills favored for heavier bands. A few mountain summits could pick up a dusting to a couple of inches of snow, although accumulations are not expected below about 7,000 feet. In the city, precipitation should stay on the lighter side, but temperatures will steadily slide. Lows will fall into the upper 30s overnight, and Friday afternoon highs will struggle to get out of the 50s. Conditions should gradually dry out during the day on Friday as colder air settles in.
Commute Notes And Weekend Rebound
The late afternoon commute could get bumpy. Gusty crosswinds and the sharp temperature drop may lead to slower travel on exposed stretches such as the Palmer Divide and I-25. Late-night low clouds and brief dips in visibility could also cause some hiccups for early Friday flights and drivers. The warm, dry pattern is expected to bounce back quickly over the weekend, with highs rebounding into the upper 70s to around 80 degrees on both Saturday and Sunday. For more on this month’s wild swings between heat and late-season storms, see our earlier coverage on how Denver went from warm afternoons to sudden snow.
