Many metro residents breathed a sigh of relief when they checked this morning’s forecast. Not only would rain punctuate the recent dryness, but the 23-day record-breaking heat wave was slated to end.
But at 2:43 p.m., temperature gauges at Denver International Airport registered a high of 91 degrees, extending the heat wave another day.
And the “heavy rainfall,” forecast by the National Weather Service, failed to materialize in many city neighborhoods.
Temperatures have dipped again – it was 65 degrees at DIA near 4 p.m., and a hazardous-weather outlook still stands – but the forecast has fallen short of expectations.
The hazardous-weather outlook advises metro residents to prepare for localized, heavy rainfall, damaging winds and the possibility of large hail between between mid-afternoon and 10 p.m. tonight.
Tomorrow, the chance of rain will climb to 40 percent, and the high will reach 88 degrees – another chance to end the heat wave. But Jim Kalina, a meteorologist with the Weather Service in Boulder, says don’t count on it.
“It’s not out of the question,” he says, but the front that passed today demonstrates how easy it is for temps to climb “more than expected.”
Throughout the rest of the week, expect wetter, slightly cooler temperatures.
Thursday will bring a high near 85 degrees, as the chance of rain subsides to 30 percent. Friday’s high will be near 88, and the chance of rain will continue sliding to 20 percent.
Gentle winds will blow through cloudy skies all week, although gusts could exceed 20 mph Thursday. Overnight forecasts from tonight through Saturday night show lows in the lower 60s.
The Weather Service expects a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms over the weekend, with highs in the upper 80s.
Liv Gold: 303-954-1311 or lgold@denverpost.com
