A record-breaking heat wave is sweeping through Colorado this week, triggering plans at more than 30 public schools in Denver to send kids home early or shut down entirely, and sending residents across the Front Range scurrying for cooler confines.
The National Weather Service in Boulder issued a heat advisory for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday across metro Denver and the northern Front Range, warning that hot temperatures may cause heat illness.
Denver, meanwhile, is opening all of its recreation centers to the public for free as “cooling stations” during regular business hours Wednesday and Thursday. Denver public libraries will also be available for those trying to escape the heat.
Temperatures reached a high of 98 in Denver on Tuesday, breaking a 2-year-old record by a degree. The mercury on Wednesday and Thursday also is forecasted to reach near 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service, which would shatter previous records of 95 and 94, respectively.
Normal highs in Denver are 84 degrees for this time in September.
“One-hundred-degree days are pretty rare in Denver,” said Ayesha Wilkinson, a meteorologist with NWS Boulder.
Denver has seen five of them so far this year, the third-most of any year since 1872, according to National Weather Service data. The high mark was set in 2012, when there were 13 triple-digit days in Denver, followed by seven in 2005.
If temperatures reach 100 this week, Wilkinson said, it will mark the latest in the year Denver has hit that number.
The National Weather Service in Boulder issued a heat advisory for Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for parts of metro Denver below 6,000 foot elevation, Fort Collins and Greeley, with afternoon temperatures expected between 94 and 99 degrees.
The weather service recommended that people drink a lot of water, never leave children or pets in vehicles, and to check on family members and neighbors. Above-normal temperatures are also expected through Thursday.
The mountains won’t be spared from the heat, either: Highs in Kremmling are expected to hit 88 degrees Wednesday, which would break the record of 86 degrees set in 2020.
The unusually hot weather is the result of what’s called an upper-level ridge weather pattern, which means dry conditions and less cloud cover, Wilkinson said. That, combined with La Niña conditions, means triple-digit days across the Eastern Plains and Front Range urban corridor.
Climate scientists say more of these days can be expected in the coming years as the climate warms.
Coloradans could also see smoke coming in from fires in Idaho and Montana this week, fueled by westerly winds, Wilkinson said. That should abate Friday, when a cool front is expected to start lowering temperatures, she said. The high in Denver on Saturday is forecast to be in the mid-60s.
Winds will be relatively light this week, though, easing the state’s fire vulnerability.
“It’ll be near-critical conditions through Thursday, but not red flag warnings,” Wilkinson said.
The September heat wave has also forced 28 Denver schools without air conditioning to send students home early this week. Four more closed entirely, according to Denver Public Schools. Some schools have clocked 90-degree temperatures inside classrooms.
“This comes down to a student safety issue,” said Scott Pribble, a Denver Public Schools spokesman.
Mitigation efforts, such as portable air conditioning units and large fans, haven’t been sufficient, he said. The district, meanwhile, is still waiting on cooling supplies from overseas that were supposed to be here this summer, Pribble said.
For those beating the heat at home, Xcel Energy advised people to use blinds or curtains to keep the heat out, make sure all exterior doors are fully closed and to utilize ceiling fans. The energy giant also recommended having air conditioner coils cleaned to improve efficiency and save energy, and to upgrade to programmable thermostats.
Anyone who needs Denver’s network of shelters, where individuals experiencing homelessness can seek refuge, can find more information here.
City officials also encouraged anyone who sees a dog in a hot car to immediately call 311 or Denver Police’s non-emergency number: 720-913-2000.
Reporter Saja Hindi contributed to this story.
