As of 1 p.m. today, the National Weather Service is reporting Denver-area temperatures near 91 degrees. That means the city has officially met a heat wave record set in 1874 – and tied in 1901 – of 18 consecutive days of temperatures at or above 90 degrees.
Temperatures gauges at The Denver Post headquarters, on West Colfax Avenue in downtown Denver, also register 91 degrees.
And it looks like more than a tie. If the Weather Service is right, the city will blow the 134-year record out of the park. After today, the next 6 days have predicted highs above 90.
Today will climb to a scorching 95 degrees. Tomorrow will be even hotter, at 98, and Friday will reach a searing high of 99 degrees.
Don’t expect relief over the weekend. Saturday and Sunday will hover in the high 90s, before dropping minimally on Monday. The forecasted high for early next week is 95 and 91 degrees, for Monday and Tuesday respectively.
Cool rain is on the agenda, but the chance is slim. With the exception of Thursday – arid at best, each day carries only a 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. So it won’t just be hot, it will be dry.
The metro area has received 3.28 inches of precipitation, according to the Weather Service. Average moisture through July 28 is 10.04 inches. The annual average for metro Denver is 15.81 inches. July has yielded 0.24 of an inch of moisture, 1.71 inches below average.
Don’t feel bad if the heat and dryness are getting to you. If you’re 17 or younger, make a beeline for the city’s recreation centers or swimming pools – all of which are free to youth and exceedingly popular this summer.
Denver Parks and Recreation says centers have seen a 200 percent increase in use, while swimming pools are experiencing a 54 percent increase in use overall.
If you’re older than 17, you have extra incentive to head for the foothills, where mountain-top temps are cooler. There are also arctic movie theaters, chilly frozen food aisles, and if all else fails, your neighbors’ lawn sprinklers. Most people turn them on in the morning and after work.
Liv Gold: 303-954-1311 or lgold@denverpost.com
