Bone Dry

The calendar says fall, but the weather has been anything but. Already setting several record highs (96 degrees last week), coupled with no rain in nearly four weeks, it is feeling a little more like the end of July than late September. The outlook is no different; warm sunny weather is expected through the period.

The long term forecast does not look much different. According to the National Weather Service there has been an emergence of La Nina in the Southern Pacific, which usually means a warmer and dryer winter than average for Colorado. The three month outlook recently released shows just that. So while it is not at all uncommon to see freezing temperatures and snow in September, it looks like it would be several weeks before we see either. The average first snowfall for Denver is October 19th.

Giant winter storm continues to pound the west; will miss Denver

An impressive storm that has churned for days over the southwest has started to push north and east. Denver looks like it will dodge the bullet, with only a slight chance of rain and snow showers over the weekend. Our mountains on the other hand, especially in the southwest, will receive a healthy dumping of snow - 2 to 4 feet of the white stuff! Good news as many mountain locations are way below normal for snowfall this year. Portions of southern California and the higher terrain of Arizona saw anywhere from 5 - 7 feet of snow from this system. Hot damn!

Nothing too impressive looming on the horizon for Denver. January tends to be a pretty slow month for weather here in town, and this year is panning out to be no different. Watching a few shortwaves that may bring a chance for precip during the middle of next week... but we will see.

Big Changes Brewing

While the first day of Fall is not officially until Tuesday, Monday will feel more like Fall than Summer. Over the last several days forecasters have continued to lower the expected highs on Monday as they continue to tweak the forecast details. As it stands, it looks like we will struggle to make it out of the 50s, and lows will dip into the upper 30s for the first time in quite awhile. Clouds and rain are also looking likely for Monday - but it remains unclear how long the soggy weather will stick around as some models have the low moving through much fast than others. From Monday on there is a general warming trend, the exact track of the low will determine how quickly this occurs. At this point it does not appear that 80s will be returning any time next week.

It shouldn't get cold enough for snow here in Denver. Travel 20 miles west and that could be a completely different story. Looks like this cold front will bring the first blast of winter weather for the Mountains and even some foothill locations.

---------------------------------------> New poll!

Pushing 90

After another cool day today, Monday will give way to warmer temps and sun. By Tuesday we will likely be in the middle to upper 80s (possibly more like 90 in town) before cooling back into the seasonal 70s for the latter part of the week.
As for precipitation... Still some scattered showers in the area this afternoon and evening. Should dry things out in a hurry this week. Will keep an eye on afternoon showers, especially later in the week...

Looking Ahead...

This coming week looks to remain unsettled, though no blizzards in the forecast (yet).

Tomorrow we will climb to near 60 degrees, so let the melt continue! Then sometime tomorrow night a fairly strong and fast moving cold front will drop through the forecast area knocking our temps back into the 40s for Monday. At this point, with the exception of a few rain or snow showers as the front passes through it looks like any significant snow will stay confined to areas north and the mountains.

By the middle of the week we have yet another slight chance of snow showers... and then Friday there is another chance of a system affecting the area. With Friday still six days out - I would say there is no reason to get excited or worried (depending on your personality type) about this potential storm because a lot can change between now and then, and will.