Rain is expected in Denver on Monday, but high fire danger persists throughout the plains and Palmer Divide while heavy snow is possible in the mountains, according to the National Weather Service.
Denverites can expect breezy, sunny weather with a high of 74 degrees and wind gusts as high as 34 miles per hour on Monday. A 20 percent chance of showers after 3 p.m. increases to 60 percent with gusts as high as 37 miles per hour before 9 p.m. Monday night will hit a low of 48 with a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m. and after midnight and a chance of showers between 9 p.m. and midnight.
Temperatures will continue to drop Tuesday and cloudy, breezy weather is expected. A high of 68 degrees with wind gusts around 38 miles per hour and a 50 percent chance of showers before noon Tuesday drops to 44 degrees that night with wind gusts decreasing to 31 miles per hour.
Warm, dry and windy weather will create critical fire weather conditions across much of the Colorado eastern plains Monday afternoon and evening with strong winds and low humidity increasing fire danger south of Interstate 76.
A red flag warning is in effect from noon to 8 p.m. Monday for the Palmer Divide and plains southeast of Interstate 76. Southwest winds with gusts up to 45 miles per hour and humidity as low as seven percent will create favorable conditions for rapid fire spread. Wind gusts may reach 50 miles per hour in Lincoln County.
Higher humidity levels decrease fire weather conditions north of Denver and throughout the mountains. A winter storm warning from 3 p.m. Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday is in place for Rocky Mountain National Park, the Medicine Bow Range, the Mountains of Summit County, the Mosquito Range and the Indian Peaks. Total snow accumulation between 8 and 18 inches with and wind gusts as high as 60 miles per hour is expected.
Heaviest snow is expected to hit the northern Front Range mountains, while wind gusts will be strongest over the southern Front Range. Roads will likely become slick and blowing snow will reduce visibility.
A winter weather advisory is also in effect from 3 p.m. Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday for the Park Range and Rabbit Ears Pass. Snow accumulation will be between 6 and 12 inches with wind gusts as high as 40 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.
