It is mid-January 2026, and if you are standing on 16th Street Mall right now, you might be wondering where the actual winter went. Or, perhaps more accurately, when the next hammer is going to drop.
Weather in the Mile High City is basically a game of atmospheric roulette. One day you are wearing shorts at Wash Park, and the next, you’re digging your Subaru out of a drift that appeared out of thin air. But this year, the extended weather forecast Denver Colorado is telling a more specific, slightly frustrating story for those of us waiting for a massive powder day.
The La Niña Hangover and What it Means for Your Weekend
Right now, the big player is La Niña. According to the latest NOAA Climate Prediction Center update from January 8, 2026, we are sitting in a "La Niña Advisory" phase.
What does that actually mean for your backyard?
Basically, the jet stream is pushed north. This usually dumps the heavy stuff on the Pacific Northwest and leaves Denver in a "warm and dry" sandwich. Honestly, it’s why our snowpack is currently sitting at about 63 percent of the long-term median. That is a pretty grim number if you’re a skier, but it's the reality of the current ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) state.
👉 See also: Why Pictures of Holocaust Survivors Still Change Everything We Know
There is a 75% chance we transition to "ENSO-neutral" between now and March. When that happens, the weather gets even more unpredictable because the "steering wheel" of the Pacific Ocean basically lets go of the car.
The Short-Term Reality (Next 14 Days)
If you’re looking at the calendar for the rest of January 2026, don’t expect a total whiteout just yet.
- January 19 – 23: Expect highs to bounce between the mid-40s and mid-50s. It’s that classic "fake spring" Denver does so well.
- January 24 – 25: A quick cold snap is moving in. We’re looking at a drop into the 20s with overnight lows potentially hitting 9°F.
- January 27: Keep an eye on this Tuesday. Current mapping from Time and Date shows a 54% chance of precipitation. It might start as rain before flipping to a light snow as the sun goes down.
Why the Front Range is Missing the Big Dumps
It’s easy to get jealous when you see Steamboat or Vail getting hammered with 10 inches of fresh fluff.
The geography of the Front Range creates a "rain shadow" effect. During these La Niña-leaning winters, the moisture gets squeezed out over the mountains before it ever hits I-25. For Denver to get buried, we need an "upslope" event—a low-pressure system that sits south of us and pulls moisture back toward the mountains from the plains.
The extended weather forecast Denver Colorado suggests we won't see a significant upslope setup until late February or even mid-March. The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which is celebrating its 234th year of prognostications, actually labeled this 2025-2026 season as "mostly mild, with pockets of wild."
We are currently in the "mild" pocket. The "wild" part usually waits for the spring equinox.
🔗 Read more: What Is the Lottery Today: Why the Game Has Totally Changed in 2026
Historical Context: Is 2026 Actually Abnormal?
Not really. People forget that March is historically Denver’s snowiest month, averaging about 11.5 inches. January is usually much drier and colder.
According to data from the National Weather Service, Denver averages about 6.5 inches of snow in January. As of mid-month, we are lagging. But because Denver's weather is so volatile, one single "bomb cyclone" can make up for a three-month drought in 48 hours.
Remember March 2021? Or the 2003 blizzard? Those didn't happen in the dead of winter; they happened when the season was supposedly "over."
Looking Ahead: February and March 2026
Looking into the deeper extended weather forecast Denver Colorado, February looks like a bit of a rollercoaster.
💡 You might also like: Iggy's Boardwalk Restaurant Warwick Rhode Island: What Most People Get Wrong
- Early February (1-5): A "bitter cold" period is projected by long-range models. This is when the Arctic Oscillation (AO) might dip, letting that freezing Canadian air slide down the Rockies.
- Mid-February: A return to sunny, warmer-than-average days. You’ll probably see people on patios in LoDo.
- Late February: This is the window to watch. As the ENSO transitions to neutral, the southern storm track often becomes more active. This is when the chance for a "real" snowstorm increases for the metro area.
Meteorologist Brad Pugh from the Climate Prediction Center noted that while uncertainty is high, the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is shifting toward a phase that favors colder outcomes for the Great Plains by early February.
Basically, the quiet weather we’re having now is just the atmosphere catching its breath.
Actionable Steps for Denverites Right Now
Since the forecast is leaning toward "dry and breezy" for the next week, you should probably focus on mitigation rather than shoveling.
- Water your trees: Seriously. With the snowpack at 63% and low humidity, Denver's trees are thirsty. If the ground isn't frozen, give your evergreens and young deciduous trees a drink.
- Check your wipers: The January 27 system looks like it could be a "messy" rain-to-snow transition. If your blades are streaking now, they’ll fail you when that slush hits.
- Plan your mountain trips for mid-week: Since the I-25 corridor is dry, the crowds at the resorts are staying high. If you want that "mild and wet" snow the mountains are getting, Tuesday or Wednesday is your best bet to avoid the I-70 parking lot.
- Keep the emergency kit in the car: Don't let the 50-degree days fool you. A February cold front in Colorado can drop temperatures 40 degrees in three hours. Make sure you have blankets and a real ice scraper.
The extended weather forecast Denver Colorado tells us to stay patient. The big storms are likely hibernating until the spring transition. Until then, enjoy the sunshine, but don't you dare put your heavy coat in storage yet.