The weather in metro Denver on Tuesday will be the warmest this year as the sun shines down under clear blue skies without significant precipitation, drying out trees, shrubs, and soil, according to the National Weather Service.

Wind will blow across the state, gusting at speeds up to 21 miles per hour in Colorado Front Range cities, and faster high at high elevations in the mountains, weather service forecasters said.

The high temperature in Denver will be 97 degrees, decreasing to 64 degrees at night, forecasters said. On Wednesday, the high temperature is expected to be 93 degrees.

Around Colorado, temperatures on Tuesday widely were expected to exceed 95 degrees.

The above-average heat, combined with likely wind, has raised fire risks in western Colorado forests. Weather service officials warned of “near critical red flag conditions” in the mountains, valleys, and southern Front Range foothills Tuesday afternoon.