Denver woke up under a gray lid on Wednesday, May 20, with temperatures in the low 40s and a damp chill in the air. Those readings should crawl into the upper 50s by late afternoon, but the warmup comes with a catch: rain showers are likely through the morning, and the prime window for showers and thunderstorms runs roughly from noon to 3 p.m. That timing could make the afternoon commute a wet, slow crawl, as brief storms drop pockets of heavier rain and gusty winds that cut visibility on area roads.
Afternoon Storm Window
The National Weather Service Denver/Boulder is calling for showers and thunderstorms to ramp up around midday, with a high near 59°F and about a 70% chance of precipitation. Forecasters say brief heavy downpours, small hail, and gusty winds are all on the table, along with a low-end chance of landspout-type spin-ups in parts of the urban corridor this afternoon. Heavier bursts could quickly produce standing water in low spots and knock visibility down in a hurry.
What This Means For Your Commute
If you are heading out this afternoon, plan on extra travel time and treat every road like it is freshly slicked. Surface ponding and poor visibility are the main troublemakers, especially where heavier showers pop up. Transit riders should expect slower trips, and anyone hosting outdoor events will want a solid rain plan in their back pocket. Keep an umbrella and an extra layer handy, and make sure loose outdoor items are secured against the stronger gusts.
Late Week And Weekend Outlook
Showers and scattered storms are likely to hang around through Friday before a drying trend sets up for the weekend. Highs should bounce back into the 70s on Saturday and reach near 81°F on Sunday, with a sunny Memorial Day Monday and highs around 85°F. The NWS forecast discussion also flags a higher chance of stronger storms on Thursday across southeast counties, where isolated large hail is possible. If your outdoor plans are flexible later in the week, you might want to slide them toward the weekend, when conditions are expected to be much drier and warmer.
