July has been a warm month in Denver. We have felt 90-degree heat on 17 days this month already, and more will be added to that before the workweek ends.
July was forecast to be hotter than normal with normal precipitation based on the projections at the end of June. The warm forecast has played out, but the precipitation we’ve seen has been underwhelming — in few areas.
Temperatures so far this month are running just over a degree above normal in Denver. Temperatures have been warmer than normal in over half the state while the rest of the state has been close to average.
Across the far southeastern Plains, temperatures have come in slightly below normal so far this month thanks to an active weather pattern. That weather pattern has brought very beneficial rains to areas of Colorado that desperately need it. Monsoon moisture has produced rather substantial accumulation across the Western Slope and areas of southern Colorado where more than 4 inches of rain has already added up. Denver International Airport, where the official weather records are kept, has seen only 0.23 inches of rain — more than an inch and a half below normal. For most areas of the metro though, this is far from their reality. From Greeley to Boulder to Centennial, more than 2 inches of rain has fallen this month.
Lots of great moisture this month across Colorado.
Dark green dots = > 1″ of rain
Yellow dots = > 2″ of rain
Red dots = > 4″ of rain
This will undoubtedly help drought concerns but much more is needed to eradicate the moisture deficit on the Western Slope. #COwx pic.twitter.com/QqtfRPFvoF
— ⛈Rain or☀️Shine I’m Andy Stein (@AndySteinWx) July 27, 2021
The rains have helped keep fires at bay and have helped to offset the ongoing drought slightly. The rains have also wreaked havoc across the state causing flooding, mudslides and debris flows that shut down interstates and sadly claimed a few lives. While we always appreciate the rains here in Colorado, the threats the come with monsoon rains continue to snatch headlines this month.
The upcoming heat wave will briefly suppress flood concerns, but another surge of monsoon moisture is forecast for this upcoming weekend.
Heat in Denver will be at its peak on Wednesday as temperatures soar to near 100 degrees. Highs through Thursday will be well into the 90s adding to the already impressive amount of 90-degree heat we’ve felt this season. We average 30 days of 90-degree heat per summer in Denver, and we have already reached that number as of June 26.
As it stands, we are nowhere close to breaking any 90-degree heat records in the Mile High City, but August usually brings more than a week’s worth of 90-degree heat, leaving more than enough time for more heat to be felt.
High temperatures across Colorado will be above average this week as a dome of heat expands and extends over our area and locations to our east.
Extreme heat continues to be a top weather story across the country. Excessive heat watches, warnings, as well as heat advisories span from the Northern Plains through the Mississippi Valley (18 states!) early this afternoon. Over 42 million people are feeling the impacts🌡️ pic.twitter.com/ec5HbkyjWb
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) July 27, 2021
More than 40 million people are under heat alerts as temperatures rise into the 90s and 100s this week. This weekend, the heat will break when temperatures drop into the 80s and monsoon moisture moves back in. We are anticipating a very wet weekend will more flood concerns across all of Colorado.
Monsoonal moisture will continue to lift north across the Rockies over the next week. While this may seem helpful given the dry soils, it will take far more precipitation to combat the drought conditions out West. Let’s hope for more precipitation, but just not all at once. pic.twitter.com/3w4TQIdmNo
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) July 27, 2021
Colorado, Utah and Wyoming look to be the bullseye for the upcoming precipitation that could bring concerns of mudslides and floods. This will kick off the month of August with cooler than normal temperatures and wet conditions.
Although the forecast is looking beneficial in terms of moisture, it will take much more rain than what is forecast to eradicate the ongoing drought across the West, but this is a good forecast nonetheless. If you have any outdoor weekend plans, prepare for a wet forecast across much of the interior west.
This content was originally published here.
