DENVER — Colorado will see wildfire danger increase on Thursday during a hot and dry day with gusty winds and low relative humidity.
Denver is forecasted to see a high temperature near 91 degrees on Thursday, which is just a few degrees off the daily record of 94 degrees set in 1911.
Coupled with 30-40 mph gusts across parts of the Front Range — especially south and east of Denver — and a very dry air mass, any fire that starts could spread quickly Thursday.
Avoid anything with a spark outside and have a to-go kit ready just in case a fire starts near your home.
On top of the high fire danger, Colorado will also have wildfire smoke in the air Thursday afternoon due to fires in California. That'll create a hazy look to our skies Thursday afternoon and evening.
Red Flag Warnings are in effect for many areas of Colorado from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday.
A dry cold front arrives Thursday night which will reduce the wind and push out the wildfire smoke as well.
The front will also drop Denver's high temperature into the low 80s (average: 81°) for Friday, a more seasonal look to things. Colorado will stay dry Friday with mostly sunny skies and light winds.
Highs tick back up to the mid-to-upper 80s for both Saturday and Sunday before a few mountain storms and perhaps one or two Interstate 25 storms move back into the picture for Monday and maybe Tuesday.
Colorado will get some drier air for the middle of next week before perhaps a meaningful push of cooler, fall-like air and some showers and storms for the end of next week and the following weekend.
It's still a bit early for details, but that could be Colorado's first true prolonged taste of fall starting next Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.
Denver forecast
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny, breezy, and warm with a Red Flag Warning (fire weather warning), high 91. Mostly clear overnight, low 54.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny and cooler, high 82. Mostly clear overnight, low 51.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny and warm, high 86. Mostly clear overnight, low 55.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny and warm, high 88. Mostly clear overnight, low 57.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny and warm with mountain storms, high 87. Partly cloudy overnight, low 57.
TUESDAY: Partly cloudy and warm with mountain storms, high 86. Partly cloudy overnight, low 51.
WEDNESDAY: Partly cloudy and more seasonal, high 83. Partly cloudy overnight, low 52.
THURSDAY: Partly cloudy and cooler with a chance for late showers, high 81. Mostly cloudy overnight, low 51.