Denver wakes up under clear but smoky skies on Tuesday, June 23, with mid-morning temperatures near 59°F and a west breeze humming along at 15 to 20 mph. By this afternoon, the mood shifts fast, with highs near 86°F and an elevated risk of strong to severe thunderstorms from mid-afternoon through the evening.
Afternoon Through Evening: Severe Storms On Deck
Thunderstorms are expected to fire up by mid-afternoon and spread across the lower elevations and the Denver urban corridor, with the nastiest storms most likely southeast of the city. The strongest cells could drop very large hail in the 2 to 3 inch range, kick out damaging wind gusts, and even spin up a few isolated landspouts. Storms may linger along and south of I-70 after midnight. Forecasters are also eyeing additional rounds of severe weather on Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25, along with locally critical fire weather in the high country, according to NWS Denver/Boulder.
Smoke And Air Quality
Haze from western wildfires will keep skies looking milky for much of the day and could knock down visibility at times. People with asthma or other respiratory conditions should avoid long stretches of outdoor exertion and keep inhalers within easy reach. Smoke higher in the atmosphere can also create strange lighting and reduce slantwise visibility for drivers and pilots, especially if storms kick up strong outflow winds.
High Country Fire Weather And Weekend Heat
The high country and valleys west of the Continental Divide are staring at elevated to locally critical fire weather today and Wednesday, with valley humidity dipping into the low teens and mountain gusts potentially reaching the mid 30s in mph. After a brief cooldown later in the week, hot and dry conditions return for the weekend, with highs near 97°F on Saturday, June 27, and around 96°F on Sunday, June 28, which will push fire danger higher across the elevated terrain.
How To Prepare
Bring pets and potted plants inside, tie down or store loose outdoor items, and build in extra time for evening travel. Heavy hail, quick burst downpours, and strong outflow winds can damage vehicles and create sudden traffic slowdowns. If you need a cool or safe place during heat or power outages, the city opens recreation centers and other shelters during heat emergencies; see the City and County of Denver for activation rules and locations. Keep alerts enabled on your phone and head indoors immediately if a thunderstorm warning or Red Flag message is issued.
