It is weirdly warm. If you stepped outside in Denver today, January 14, 2026, you probably didn't reach for a parka. Instead, you might have seen people in t-shirts at City Park or sipping iced coffee on a patio in LoDo. The weather in denver colorado right now is basically a glitch in the matrix of what a Mile High winter is supposed to look like. We are currently sitting at a balmy 54°F, which is roughly 11 degrees higher than the historical average for this date.
The National Weather Service in Boulder has been tracking this "stagnant" pattern for days. Basically, we’re trapped between a massive ridge of high pressure over the West Coast and a deep trough of Arctic air that is currently pummeling the East Coast. Colorado is the middle child here, left in a sunny, dry, and surprisingly mild vacuum.
But there’s a catch. While the sunshine feels great on your face, it’s actually a bit of a disaster for the mountains.
The Snowpack Crisis Hiding Behind the Blue Skies
You’ve probably heard skiers grumbling at the local breweries lately. They have a point. As of this afternoon, Colorado’s statewide snowpack is sitting at roughly 62% of its normal levels for mid-January. That is a brutal statistic. Spencer McKee from OutThere Colorado noted that we are officially hitting record lows for this time of year—records that go all the way back to 1987.
If you were planning on a powder day this weekend, honestly, lower your expectations.
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Meteorologists like Chris Bianchi and Kody Wilson (known locally as "Kody the WX Guy") have been sounding the alarm on this dry spell. While Denver is enjoying 55°F highs today, the lack of snow on the ground means there is no "refrigeration effect." Usually, snow cover reflects sunlight and keeps the air cool. Without it, the ground just soaks up the heat, making it feel even more like early May than mid-January.
What to Expect for the Rest of Today and Tonight
If you're heading out for dinner or hitting a Nuggets game tonight, here is the breakdown of what the sky is actually doing.
- Current Temp: 54°F and mostly sunny.
- Wind: Moving from the northeast at a lazy 5 mph. It’s barely enough to rustle the dead leaves.
- Tonight's Low: It’ll drop to about 34°F. That’s still above freezing, which is wild for the "dead of winter."
- Humidity: Hovering around 34%. It’s that classic, skin-cracking Colorado dry air we all know and love.
Tomorrow is looking even warmer. We could see the mercury climb into the low 60s. For context, the record high for mid-January is 65°F (set back in 1938), and while we might not smash that record, we are certainly knocking on its door.
Why Is This Happening? The La Niña Connection
This isn't just "weird weather." It's actually a fairly predictable outcome of the current ENSO-neutral to La Niña transition. When La Niña takes hold, the jet stream tends to stay further north. This leaves the southern half of the U.S. and the Central Plains (us) high and dry.
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According to the Climate Prediction Center, there is a 75% chance we stay in this "neutral" phase through the spring. That basically means the "weather in denver colorado right now"—sunny, dry, and mild—could be our baseline for the next few weeks.
The concern, of course, is fire risk.
When you get 60-degree days in January with zero snow on the ground, the tall grasses on the Marshall Mesa or along the I-25 corridor become literal tinder. We’ve seen this movie before, and it usually doesn't end well. If the winds pick up—which they are forecasted to do on Thursday with gusts reaching 30 mph—we might see some Red Flag warnings pop up.
Real Talk for Locals and Travelers
If you are visiting Denver right now, you’ve essentially lucked into a "bonus spring." You can hike the Red Rocks stairs without slipping on ice. You can walk the 16th Street Mall without a heavy wool coat.
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But for the locals, it’s a bit of a "doom and gloom" sunny day. We need the moisture. The "high-end" forecast from the NWS shows a measly 10% chance of maybe getting an inch of snow by Saturday, but don't hold your breath. Most of that moisture is going to get shredded by the mountains before it ever hits the Front Range.
Actionable Steps for the Next 48 Hours
- Hydrate like it’s your job. 34% humidity is low, even for us. Your skin and your sinuses will thank you if you double your water intake today.
- Check your tire pressure. These wild swings from 30°F nights to 60°F days cause your tires to expand and contract. Don't be surprised if your "low pressure" light comes on.
- Layer up. This is the most "Colorado" advice ever, but it’s true. When that sun goes down behind the mountains around 5:00 PM, the temperature will crater. You’ll go from needing sunglasses to needing a jacket in about twenty minutes.
- Hold off on the car wash. Even though it’s dry, there’s a slight chance of light rain/snow showers northeast of the city on Tuesday night. It probably won't be enough to wash the dust off, just enough to make it look muddy.
The weather in denver colorado right now is a reminder of how volatile the High Plains can be. We are living through one of the driest starts to a year on record. Enjoy the sun, but keep your snow shovel handy—February is historically one of our snowiest months, and the atmosphere has a way of balancing the books eventually.
Keep an eye on the wind speeds for Thursday. If those downslope winds hit the 40 mph mark as predicted by some models, the fire danger will be the real story, overshadowing the pleasant temperatures. Pack a light sweater, grab some lotion, and enjoy the 55-degree "winter" while it lasts.