Denver is waking up to a mostly sunny Friday with a high near 64°F — a comfortable late-May day to get outside, as long as you beat the evening storm window arriving south of the metro.
Today’s Setup
A cold front moved through overnight, dropping highs into the mid-60s along the Front Range — cooler than what late May usually delivers. Expect light east-northeast winds at 2 to 7 mph and mostly sunny skies through the early afternoon. The Denver weather forecast holds clear until evening, when a shortwave trough tracks east across the region. The National Weather Service in Boulder is targeting the Palmer Divide — the I-25 corridor south toward Castle Rock and Monument — as the bull’s-eye for late-day showers and thunderstorms. Downtown and the northern suburbs carry a lower risk, but watch for building clouds after 5 PM MT.
Best Window To Be Outside
Morning through mid-afternoon is your golden window. Whether you’re running the Cherry Creek Trail, hiking near Red Rocks, or spending time at Washington Park, aim to wrap up outdoor plans by 4 PM MT. A hydration running vest is ideal for longer efforts when the air is cool and the trail is uncrowded. Check out outdoor gear deals for more warm-weather picks heading into Memorial Day weekend.
Evening Storm Risk
Friday night precipitation chances reach 38%, focused south of I-70. The National Weather Service says this round clears overnight, leaving Saturday morning dry. A waterproof phone pouch is a smart grab if you’re parking outside any venue or tailgating tonight.
Speaking of tonight — the Avalanche host the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena for Game 2 of the Third Round (May 22). It’s fully indoors, so weather is zero concern. They’re back at Ball Arena again Saturday, May 23. Gear up in your Colorado Avalanche jersey or Colorado Avalanche beanie and Get tickets on SeatGeek if you still need seats for either game.
Weekend Outlook
Saturday looks outstanding — mostly sunny, high near 71°F, and just a 13% storm chance as ridging builds over Colorado. The Turnpike Troubadours play Ford Amphitheater on Saturday, May 23 under near-perfect outdoor concert weather. Find tickets on StubHub if you haven’t grabbed them yet.
On Sunday, May 24, the Colorado Rapids host FC Dallas at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and Alabama Shakes perform at Red Rocks Amphitheatre that same evening. Both should see mostly dry conditions, though an isolated late-day shower is always on the table for late May in Denver.
Allergy Alert
Post-frontal drying typically spikes grass and tree pollen counts along the Front Range. If you’re sensitive, running a HEPA air purifier at home on high-pollen days can make the difference between a miserable afternoon and a manageable one.
Dinner Tonight
Cool spring evenings are made for warm, easy meals — a big bowl of pasta or a quick stir-fry hits the mark without much fuss. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, 71°F — the weekend’s best day.
- Sunday: Mostly dry; isolated afternoon shower possible. Great for the Rapids game and Red Rocks.
- Monday: Dry and warm as the ridge centers over Colorado.
- Tuesday onward: A more active afternoon thunderstorm pattern likely returns as an upper-level low approaches from the west, per National Weather Service forecasters in Boulder.
