Denver woke up to clear skies and cool, mid-50s air Thursday, but the easygoing start is not sticking around. Highs will surge into the upper 80s to near 90 degrees today, and forecasters are already eyeing a bigger weekend shakeup: a Fire Weather Watch on Saturday paired with a separate storm threat out on the eastern plains. Translation for the Front Range: hotter days, gusty winds, and extra caution for foothill and mountain communities.
Today And Friday
Sunshine takes the lead Thursday, pushing Denver into the upper 80s and low 90s. Friday (Juneteenth) keeps things toasty, with highs holding in the upper 80s under mostly sunny skies. East to northeast breezes around 510 mph are expected in the metro, while the foothills and high valleys trend even drier, according to the National Weather Service Denver/Boulder.
Fire Weather Watch Saturday
For Saturday afternoon into the evening (Saturday, June 20), forecasters have posted a Fire Weather Watch for parts of the Front Range mountains and high valleys as low humidity teams up with gusty westerly winds. Mountain gusts could reach 40145 mph in spots, and the forecast discussion notes that "critical conditions" are possible if the incoming system behaves as currently modeled.
Anyone living near the wildland-urban interface is urged to hold off on open burning and to delay spark-producing chores, such as using power tools or equipment that might throw off embers, until conditions improve.
Storm Threat For The Plains
The same system stirring up fire concerns near the high country could also fire off scattered showers and strong to severe thunderstorms across the eastern plains Saturday afternoon and evening. Damaging wind gusts and hail are the main hazards, so people with outdoor plans east of the metro should be ready to head inside quickly if storms start to build.
How To Prepare
To keep things safe and sane this weekend, avoid open burning, secure loose yard items that could turn into airborne projectiles in a gust, and knock out heavy yard work during the cooler morning hours.
If you need a cool place during any heat spikes, Denver often opens recreation centers and library branches as daytime cooling spots during heat emergencies. For background, see our June 16 Hoodline coverage of wildfire jitters.
When To Watch
The Fire Weather Watch is currently set for Saturday afternoon into the evening, with the potential to be upgraded to Red Flag Warnings if winds pick up further and humidity drops. Check the latest forecast before heading into the foothills, and keep an eye on local updates if you have outdoor plans this weekend.
