Denver’s Fourth of July opens with patchy morning smoke but clears into a sunny, near 90°F afternoon, and the National Weather Service says gusty east winds at 3 to 10 mph, gusting to 16 mph, will give way to strong to severe thunderstorms by afternoon — so fireworks watchers, grillers, and Rockies fans should build plans around the 2 PM turn, not just the heat.
Today’s Setup
High near 90°F under sunny skies, with an overnight low near 63°F rising to around 65°F by early morning. East wind holds at 3 to 10 mph with gusts as high as 16 mph through the day, and NWS Boulder notes dewpoints in the mid-to-upper 50s all the way to the I-25 corridor — enough low-level moisture to fuel afternoon storms once temperatures peak.
Best Window To Be Outside
Morning through roughly 2 PM is the calm stretch. Get your Washington Park run, Cheesman Park picnic, or City Park stroll in early — the forecast discussion pegs storm development along the foothills by 2 PM, with cells then sweeping east across the metro through around 9 PM, right during tonight’s Ed Sheeran: LOOP Tour show at Empower Field At Mile High.
Storm, Wind & Smoke Risk
The Storm Prediction Center has placed areas along and east of I-25 in a Slight Risk (2 of 5) for severe weather, with a Marginal Risk (1 of 5) over the Front Range Foothills. Large hail and gusty winds are the main hazards as instability builds toward 2,000 J/kg of MLCAPE with shear favorable for supercells. NWS Boulder also flags lingering fire weather concerns in the higher elevations despite big improvement earlier this week, with dry thunderstorms possible — keep a N95 respirator mask smoke handy if patchy smoke returns, and a garden hose 100ft nearby for quick dousing near dry grass.
What To Wear Or Bring
Wind is today’s wildcard, so grillers should pack a windproof lighter, and a portable misting fan takes the edge off the 90°F heat before storms cool things down tonight. Heading to Coors Field for the Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants this weekend? Grab a Colorado Rockies jersey or Colorado Rockies fitted cap, and Get tickets on SeatGeek or Find tickets on StubHub. Ed Sheeran fans can grab an Ed Sheeran t-shirt, Ed Sheeran hoodie, or Ed Sheeran hat before tonight’s show, and Sunday’s Don Toliver: Octane Tour at Ball Arena pairs with a Don Toliver t-shirt. If evening storms knock out power, the DARAN 288Wh Power Station Just $90 for Prime Members is worth having charged.
For dinner, beat the wind and afternoon storms by starting our pork loin under $1/lb smoking guide early, or keep it simple with pasta or stir-fry if you cook indoors tonight. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon, and Amazon Fresh groceries can have everything for tonight’s cookout delivered before the storms roll in.
Next Few Days
Sunday looks similar with a high near 93°F and another chance of afternoon storms — worth watching for the Rockies vs. Giants game at Coors Field. NWS Boulder expects a few storms each day into next week, with the best chances Tuesday and Wednesday from the Front Range eastward. Looking further out, the Streetlight Manifesto show at Mission Ballroom on July 8 should see calmer weather.
