Colorado Springs weather: Haze from wildfires Friday plus maybe a rain shower or two
Haze and smoke from wildfires burning across the Four Corners region will have an easier time settling into southern Colorado on Friday.
“This will come as high pressure sits across Arizona and Mexico this morning,” KOAA Meteorologist Alan Rose said. “The smoke looks to be the thickest this afternoon and evening, with some clearing towards daybreak Saturday.”
Colorado Springs residents can expect a high temperature of 82 degrees today.
“Also rotating around high pressure will be more moisture and energy, which will allow for additional showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening,” Rose said. “Storms will begin to form in the mountains around the lunch hour, with the potential for rain increasing along I-25 between 1-3 pm.”
Like Thursday, Colorado Springs areas may see heavy rain again, which could lead to flooding in parts of southern Colorado.
Saturday will be hotter as highs climb into the middle 80s in Colorado Springs versus the lower 80s Friday.
“Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible during the first half of the weekend, with drier skies by Sunday,” Rose said. “We’ll also continue to see areas of smoke and haze this weekend across the Pikes Peak region.”
By Sunday, expect drier air in Colorado Springs, with a high of around 87 degrees. Strong to severe thunderstorms will still be possible out on the eastern Plains.
“High pressure expanding into the desert southwest next week will take us from a stormy pattern to a hot one, with 90s in the Springs most of the first week of August,” Rose said.
Here’s the four-day forecast for Colorado Springs from the National Weather Service:
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. West northwest wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Sunny, with a high near 88. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 90. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.