Temperatures Wednesday reached 91 degrees with some haze in the sky lingering from wildfires, and Thursday temperatures are forecast to reach 93 with a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms. 

“With a high-pressure system continuing to build over Arizona, temperatures in our area will reach the 90s,” KOAA Meteorologist Lauren Brand said. 

More mid-level clouds built in the high country later in the afternoon and moved onto the Front Range by the evening. 

“Temperatures will continue to be above average Thursday and Friday,” said Brand. “There will be an increase in moisture on Friday, which will also increase our rain chances.”

Rain coverage will continue to increase throughout the weekend, and a high-pressure system will begin to build early next week.  

The haze from wildfire pollution is not significant enough to constitute an air quality health advisory, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, but meteorologists recommend those who are sensitive to wood smoke or those with heart or lung disease to “reduce exertion” until smoke levels decrease. 

Polluted air is measured by the Air Quality Index which has six levels of concern and accounts for six different pollutants, according to the U.S. government’s air quality tracker AirNow. Healthy air has a AQI of 0-50, posing little to no risk, and hazardous air has an AQI of over 300. 

The AQI in Colorado Springs peaked at 97, according a sensor run by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at Colorado College. The sensor is within the moderate risk and 4 AQI below the criteria for air pollution being unhealthy for sensitive groups. 

Other sensors in El Paso County also registered pollution at a moderate risk on Wednesday, which poses some risks to people including those who are sensitive to air pollution. At the Air Force Academy, their sensor registered an AQI of 51 and Manitou Springs’ sensor registered a 74 AQI.  

Across the state, 17 Colorado counties are under air quality alerts for wildfire smoke, with numerous AQI monitors registering at a moderate level of concern. Several sensors had an AQI above the moderate risk on Wednesday with one air quality sensor in Mesa County registering an AQI of 190 at 4 a.m. Wednesday.

Here’s the rest of this week’s weather forecast from the National Weather Service: 

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the morning. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.