Denver’s last weekend of summer is going out with record-setting summer temperatures.
The city hit 90 degrees Saturday for the 74th time this year, setting a record for the most ays at 90 or above, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.
The previous record was set in 2012, when Denver experienced 73 days with temperatures in the 90s. This year, Denver also recorded its latest 100-degree day on the calendar ever, on Sept. 5.
Denver reached 90° this afternoon for the 74th time in 2020 which breaks the record for most 90° days in a year.
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
Meteorologist David Barjenbruch attributed the record-setting year to an “unfortunately dry summer with what seemed like unrelenting heat.”
“The dryness, outside of that one quick glimpse of winter in early September, has quickly built back over the area,” Barjenbruch said. “We just had a dominating ridge of high pressure over the whole Western United States this summer.”
This may not be the last time the mercury surpasses 90 degrees, he said. Monday will be very warm with highs in the upper 80s. And toward the end of the week, Denver may have another shot at breaking into the 90s.
“Itap not out the question, and thatap pretty late in September to be hitting 90 on a routine basis,” Barjenbruch said.
Tuesday marks the first day of fall, but the metro area may not get autumnal weather for a while. Forecasts predict that Denver will see above-average temperatures going into early October, Barjenbruch said. Thatap concerning because October usually brings downslope winds that increase the risk of fire danger, he said.
But there is a silver lining: “The fortunate thing about the heat, if you’re sick and tired of it, is the days are getting shorter, nights are getting cooler and itap only getting hot for a shorter period of time during the day,” Barjenbruch said.
