Honestly, if you just moved to the Mile High City from the Midwest or East Coast, you might be looking at the thermometer today and wondering where the "brutal" Colorado winter is hiding. It's January 15th, and Denver is basically acting like it’s mid-April. We’re coming off a morning that felt more like a brisk autumn day than the dead of winter, and the Denver CO 7 day weather forecast looks like a literal roller coaster of high-plains weirdness.
The big story right now? This record-shattering warmth.
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The Heat is On (Kinda)
Today, Thursday, January 15, we're staring down a high of 63°F. That is roughly 18 degrees warmer than the historical average for this date. We aren't quite hitting the all-time January 15 record of 68 degrees, but we are absolutely in the ballpark of the warmest winter starts Denver has ever seen. In fact, local meteorologists are noting that this could be the 26th day this season where the mercury has hit 60 degrees—a pace that is officially the most on record for this point in the year.
But don't get too comfortable in that light hoodie.
A sharp cold front is lurking. It’s expected to slam into the Front Range tonight. While today is all about clear blue skies and a balmy 51°F current temperature (as of 6 PM), things are about to get windy. Very windy.
Fire on the Horizon?
The National Weather Service in Boulder isn't just worried about people getting sunburnt at lunch. They’ve slapped a Red Flag Warning on the I-25 corridor. When you mix 60-degree heat with humidity as low as 11% to 16% and wind gusts that could whip up to 25 mph in the city (and much higher on the plains), you get a powder keg.
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It’s serious enough that Xcel Energy has been eyeing "Public Safety Power Shutoffs" for thousands of customers north of us to prevent downed lines from sparking a wildfire. It’s a weird mental disconnect to be worrying about wildfires while the calendar says January, but that’s the reality of a "brown" winter in Colorado.
The 7-Day Breakdown: What to Expect
If you’re planning your week, here is the shorthand version of how this is going to play out.
- Friday, Jan 16: The honeymoon is over. Highs drop to 42°F. It’ll be cloudy and breezy, feeling significantly colder than Thursday.
- Saturday, Jan 17: More of the same. High 42°F, low 25°F. Perfect weather for staying inside, though it’ll be sunny.
- Sunday, Jan 18: The bounce back. We climb back to 55°F.
- Monday, Jan 19: A slight dip to 47°F under partly sunny skies.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: Back to the "Is this really winter?" vibes with a high of 60°F.
- Wednesday & Thursday (Jan 21-22): Hovering in the upper 50s.
Basically, if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes. Or just wait until Tuesday.
Where is the Snow?
This is the question every skier and snowboarder is screaming into the void right now. The snowpack is, frankly, in a bad spot. We are sitting at roughly 63% of the long-term median for this date. That’s near an all-time low.
While the Denver CO 7 day weather forecast shows a tiny 10-20% chance of some flakes tonight and Friday morning, it’s not going to be the "Champagne Powder" Denver is famous for. It’s more like a dusting of frustration. Experts like Joel Gratz over at OpenSnow are pointing toward the window of January 22 to 24 as the next real chance for anything "meaningful" to fall in the mountains. Until then, the resorts are leaning hard on the snowmaking guns.
Practical Steps for the Week Ahead
- Hydrate everything: When the humidity hits 11%, your skin and your plants will feel it. Drink more water than you think you need.
- Fire Safety: If you’re near the foothills or the eastern plains, avoid anything that could spark. Seriously. The grass is tinder-dry.
- Layer Up: Thursday’s 63 degrees will feel like a distant memory when Friday morning hits you with a 26-degree low and north winds.
- Check your tires: Even if we don't get a "big" storm, these small temperature swings can mess with your tire pressure.
It's a strange time to be in Colorado. We’re living through one of the warmest winter starts in history, balancing beautiful sunny patio weather with the underlying anxiety of a record-low snowpack. Enjoy the 60s while they last, but keep the heavy parka by the door. You're going to need it by tomorrow morning.