After Wednesday’s winds escalated massive wildfires, a smoke plume has blanketed the region.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an air quality alert Thursday for Douglas, Jefferson, Denver, western Arapahoe, western Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer, and Weld counties through at least 4 p.m. The alert warns residents to reduce outdoor activities as there is more air pollution due to the smoke plume.
Besides the smoke plume, clouds will return to the skies Thursday with milder winds as temperatures drop to a seasonal range. Expect a high near 57 degrees. The National Weather Service in Boulder predicts light winds in the Denver metro area at speeds of 5 to 10 mph.
Temperatures will dip below freezing Wednesday night with partly cloudy skies. The low is expected to drop to 29 degrees. NWS says winds will remain light with speeds remaining in the 5-to-10 mph range.
By the start of the weekend, temperatures will go up slightly and there will be less cloud coverage.
Today we expect a smoke plume off the ground above Ft. Collins/Loveland/Greeley & NE of Denver. At the surface, smoke will be mainly near the fires, then increase near the foothills and Denver late in the day. More smoke from a fire near Kremmling would move across Denver.
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
Much cooler today across northeast Colorado.
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)
