Monday’s temperatures were toasty for May, but the heat missed the record for the date by six degrees.
The record for May 18 was set in 1996 at 93 degrees, and temperatures Monday afternoon topped out at 87 degrees at Denver International Airport.
National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Cooper said there’s a better chance of hitting a record high today.
The record for May 19 is 89 degrees, set in 2006. The Weather Service forecast today’s high will reach 90 degrees.
The average high temperatures for Monday and today are 71 degrees and 73 degrees, respectively.
A cold front, packing moisture, is on its way to the state and should increase the chance of thunderstorms and showers when it arrives Wednesday night.
The front should send daytime highs in Denver down into the 60s on Thursday and Friday, the Weather Service said. The chances of rain increase as the weekend approaches, according to the forecast.
Temperatures were in the 70s and 80s across the high country Monday, pushing snowmelt into overdrive and creating the dangers of flooding and swift rivers on the Western Slope.
Flood advisories remain in effect for several rivers, including portions of the Colorado, Crystal, Eagle, Elk and Yampa.
Rivers flowing beyond their banks could cause minor flooding in low-lying areas, the Weather Service warned.
Those crossing rivers or rafting should use caution because just 2 feet of fast-flowing water can sweep away a car, forecasters said.
