Denver is serving up a full summer preview this Friday — mostly sunny skies and a high near 85°F, running 10 to 15 degrees above normal for mid-May, according to the National Weather Service Denver/Boulder office. Get outside early if you can, but take the afternoon heat seriously: fire weather conditions are elevated along the Front Range today, with southeast wind gusts up to 17 mph making for a dangerously dry afternoon.
Today’s Setup
A thermal ridge is keeping the Mile High City unusually warm for the second day running. Southeast winds of 3 to 9 mph pick up in the afternoon with gusts near 17 mph. With the current dry surface air mass, any showers that develop near the Palmer Divide this afternoon are more likely to produce gusty outflow winds than meaningful rain — so don’t count on them to cool things down. Overnight lows drop to around 55°F with mostly clear skies and light southwest winds.
Fire Weather Risk — Be Careful Out There
The National Weather Service has flagged elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions for the Front Range today. The combination of heat, very low humidity, and afternoon gusts is dangerous. Avoid any outdoor burning. If you’re hiking near Chatfield State Park, Roxborough State Park, or Green Mountain, leave zero spark risk behind. Keep a pollen count face mask handy if smoke moves into your neighborhood, and run a HEPA air purifier indoors to protect air quality at home.
Rockies at Coors Field Tonight and Saturday
Tonight the Colorado Rockies host the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field (May 15) — about as good a night for baseball in LoDo as you’ll get. Expect temps in the low 70s at first pitch, easing into the upper 50s by the final innings. Bring one light layer for the back half of the game. Saturday (May 16) the Rockies host the D-backs again under a high near 82°F, but a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms develops after noon — the eastern metro and plains counties carry the highest storm odds. Gear up with a Colorado Rockies jersey and a Colorado Rockies fitted cap, and lock in your seats through Get tickets on SeatGeek or Find tickets on StubHub.
Allergy Alert
Warm, dry, and breezy May days are among the worst for Front Range allergy sufferers. Tree and grass pollen is moving freely in these conditions. Keep allergy relief nasal spray in your bag before heading out, and run a HEPA air purifier at home with windows closed during peak afternoon winds.
Tonight’s Events
Beyond the ballpark, tonight also features American Football with Mei Semones at Summit Music Hall, Desi Banks: Your Favorite Cousin at the Paramount Theatre, and Joe Gatto at Denver Improv — all indoors and weather-proof. Saturday evening, the MJ (Touring) show arrives at Buell Theatre, and Sunday the Baby Keem - The Ca$ino Tour hits the Fillmore Auditorium.
Dinner Tonight
With a warm, pleasant evening ahead, a light pasta or stir-fry is the easy, no-fuss call. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Saturday (82°F) stays mostly sunny through the morning, with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon — plan outdoor activities for the morning window. Storm chances continue to grow Sunday and into early Monday. The mountains are looking at likely accumulating snow by Monday, with a greater than 70% probability per the National Weather Service. If you’re eyeing an I-70 corridor trip early next week, keep a very close eye on the forecast. Check back for the latest Denver weather forecast.
