Denver weather is basically a mood ring. One minute it’s sunny enough to eat lunch on a patio, and the next you’re digging your car out of a drift while the wind tries to take your eyebrows off. If you’re looking at a 14 day weather forecast denver colorado, you’ve probably noticed the numbers jumping around like a caffeinated squirrel. Honestly, that’s just January in the Mile High City.
The current chaos and what’s coming
Right now, Denver is shaking off some serious wind. We just saw gusts hitting up to 78 mph on Friday, which is enough to flip a semi-truck—and it actually did. Today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, things are a bit more "tranquil," if you consider 45 mph gusts tranquil. It’s sunny with a high of 40°F, but don't let the blue sky fool you. The humidity is sitting at a bone-dry 29%, and there’s a Red Flag Warning for fire danger east of I-25.
Yeah, fire weather in the middle of winter. That’s the nuance of Colorado weather that trips up visitors.
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Tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, actually looks like the pick of the week. We’re hitting a high of 50°F. It'll be partly sunny during the day, which is perfect if you’re heading to Empower Field at Mile High to watch the Broncos take on the Bills in the divisional round. But keep an eye on the sky toward the evening. We have a 20% chance of snow showers moving in Sunday night as a little disturbance rolls through.
Looking down the road: The next 14 days
Predicting Denver weather two weeks out is a bit like trying to guess what a toddler wants for dinner. However, the patterns for the rest of January are starting to take shape.
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- Monday, Jan 19: We drop back to a high of 40°F with a 40% chance of snow. It’s a quick hit, though.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: The "Yo-Yo" effect kicks in. We jump all the way up to 57°F.
- Mid-week (Jan 21-23): Expect highs in the high 40s and low 50s. It’s unseasonably warm for January, but "unseasonable" is basically our default setting.
- The Long Range: Ensembles are showing a shift toward more "zonal" flow later next week. Basically, that means fewer big storms and more steady, dry air. You can expect daytime highs to hover between 52°F and 59°F through the end of the month, with lows staying predictably chilly in the 20s.
Why Denver weather is so weird
It all comes down to the "upslope" and "downslope" game. When the wind blows from the west, air drops down the mountains, compresses, and warms up. We call those Chinook winds, or "snow-eaters." They can melt six inches of snow in a single afternoon.
But when that wind flips and comes from the northeast? That’s when we get the "upslope." The air hits the mountains, gets pushed up, cools down, and dumps moisture right on top of the city. That's why one side of town might be buried in a foot of powder while the other side just has a light dusting.
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How to actually survive a Denver January
If you're looking at the 14 day weather forecast denver colorado and wondering what to pack, the answer is always "everything."
- The Three-Layer Rule: You need a wicking base layer (merino wool is king), an insulating middle layer like a puffy jacket, and a windproof shell.
- Sunscreen is non-negotiable: We get over 300 days of sun. At 5,280 feet, the UV rays don't care that it's 20 degrees outside; they will burn you.
- Hydrate or die (kinda): The humidity right now is around 12-18% in some spots. Your skin will crack, and you’ll get a "high altitude headache" if you aren't chugging water.
Honestly, the best way to handle Denver weather is to embrace the chaos. If you don't like the forecast today, just wait twenty minutes. It’ll change.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
Check the local NWS Boulder office "Area Forecast Discussion" every morning for the real "inside baseball" on wind and snow totals. If you're driving into the mountains, always keep a "winter kit" in your trunk—blankets, water, and maybe a small shovel. Those mountain passes don't play by the same rules as the city.