DENVER — Tonight brings another chance for thunderstorms, and a few could become strong or even severe, especially later this evening and into the overnight hours. Forecast confidence isn't especially high because recent storm patterns have been difficult to predict, but storms may develop farther west than the past couple of nights, including near the I-25 corridor. Some storms could stick around well past midnight with gusty winds, hail, and heavy rain.
Saturday, the Fourth of July, looks like another active weather day. Storms are expected to develop over the mountains and foothills during the afternoon before moving onto the plains through the early evening. Some of these storms could become severe, producing large hail and damaging wind gusts. If you have outdoor holiday plans, keep an eye on the forecast and be ready to move indoors if storms approach. The good news is that most storms should move out before fireworks displays begin.
After Saturday, the weather settles down a bit, but it stays hot. High temperatures on Sunday and Monday will climb back into the lower to middle 90s across the plains. While the atmosphere won't be quite as favorable for widespread storms, a few afternoon and evening thunderstorms are still expected, mainly over the mountains, foothills, and nearby areas.
The pattern becomes a little more active again on Tuesday and Wednesday as moisture and instability increase. Scattered thunderstorms are expected both days, especially from the Front Range east onto the plains. A few of these storms could once again become strong or severe, so those will be the days to watch closely next week.
Fire weather concerns are finally starting to ease as winds gradually weaken, ending the stretch of critical fire weather conditions. Even so, the overall weather pattern remains hot and dry, so fire danger won't disappear completely. By the second half of next week, drier air is expected to return, with storm chances shifting mainly to the eastern plains while breezier conditions increase over the mountains.
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