DENVER, COLORADO — Good morning and happy Friday. Storm chances will increase along the Front Range, I-25 corridor and eastern plains this afternoon and evening, according to a Friday outlook from Denver & Front Range Weather. Yesterday’s surge of monsoon moisture was largely contingent on the track of the main plume and its timing with peak daytime heating, and forecasters don’t expect those same factors to play as big a role today, though locally heavy rain, frequent lightning and gusty outflow winds remain the primary concerns for anyone along the metro corridor.
Front Range and I-25 Corridor Highs Reach Upper 70s to Upper 80s
If you’re in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs or anywhere else along the I-25 corridor, expect temperatures ranging from 78 to 86 degrees this afternoon, with afternoon and evening storms building as the day progresses. Forecasters say coverage along I-25 should be noticeably better today than it was Thursday, meaning more communities along the corridor are likely to see rain reach the ground rather than storms staying confined to the mountains or fizzling out before arrival.
Eastern Plains Could Approach 92 Degrees With Isolated to Scattered Storms
Out across the eastern plains, temperatures are forecast to run the warmest anywhere in the region today, reaching 84 to 92 degrees. If you’re in this zone, expect isolated to scattered storms this afternoon and evening, with the same locally heavy rain and frequent lightning threat as the Front Range, just with a bit more heat to work with heading into storm development.
Mountain Storms Develop First Before Spreading East Toward the Urban Corridor
Storms today will follow a familiar pattern: initially developing over the mountains, where mountain valleys are forecast to see the coolest highs of the day at just 62 to 72 degrees alongside numerous storms, before that activity spreads east toward the urban corridor and eastern plains through the afternoon and evening. If you live along the Front Range or farther east, this means the storms affecting you later today are largely being seeded by what’s already firing up in the high country earlier in the afternoon.
SE Wyoming, I-80 and the Western Slope Also See Scattered Activity
Farther north, southeastern Wyoming and the I-80 corridor are forecast for highs of 74 to 82 degrees with scattered PM storms, while the Western Slope sees a wider range of 72 to 84 degrees alongside scattered showers and storms. If you’re in either of these zones, today’s setup looks similar to what’s expected along the Front Range, just with slightly different timing and coverage depending on how the afternoon heating and moisture interact with your local terrain.
Not Everybody Gets Wet, But Locally Heavy Rain Remains the Primary Concern
Forecasters were direct that not everybody will see rain today, but wherever storms do form, there’s still a lot of moisture floating around in the atmosphere, meaning locally heavy rain stays the top concern. Frequent lightning and gusty outflow winds are also possible with the stronger cells, so if you’re heading out for an afternoon or evening activity anywhere along the Front Range or eastern plains, it’s worth keeping half an eye on the sky and a weather app handy.
Saturday May Become the Most Active Day of the Stretch
Looking ahead, Saturday may end up being the most active day of this entire stretch, with scattered thunderstorms expected again and a couple of stronger storms possible across the eastern plains. Forecasters specifically flagged the Nebraska Panhandle and western Kansas as areas where locally heavy rain will remain possible wherever storms repeatedly travel over the same locations, so if you’re in either of those areas, Saturday is worth watching just as closely as today.
Cooldown Arrives Sunday With a Passing Storm System and Cold Front
A passing storm system and cold front will bring noticeably cooler temperatures Sunday, with highs struggling to escape the upper 60s and lower 70s in some areas. If you’ve gotten used to the 80s and 90s this week, Sunday will feel like a real shift, and it’s a good day to have a light jacket handy if you’re headed outside along the Front Range or eastern plains.
Drying Out Monday and Tuesday, With Another Moisture Surge Possible Midweek
The region begins drying out Monday and Tuesday, giving a brief break from the storm activity that’s defined much of this week. Forecasters note another increase in moisture may arrive toward the middle of next week, though it’s not a certainty at this point, just a possibility worth keeping in the back of your mind as plans firm up for next week. As one forecaster put it, September has decided it would like to be July, October and monsoon season all at the same time, so staying flexible with outdoor plans through the next several days is the smart move for anyone across Colorado’s Front Range, mountains and eastern plains.
