Marty’s Saturday Morning Forecast – Hot!!! – 7/18/2020

Overview: We're tracking very warm air and daily chances for thunderstorms over the next week!

Today: Partly cloudy and becoming hot quickly this morning with temperatures reaching the 90s to lower 100s for the plains and mainly 80s for our local mountain communities and high mountain valleys. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop over and near the mountains initially this afternoon, and they should help to take the edge off the heat a little later in the day. Thunderstorms today aren't likely to produce severe weather along and west of the I-25 corridor where brief downpours, gusty wind and frequent lightning are the primary threats, but a stronger storm or two could also produce some heavier rain, hail and stronger wind gusts over the far southeastern corner of the state late.

Tonight: Thunderstorms should decrease in coverage this evening with stray showers possible into the night, but most areas should eventually become partly cloudy. Low temperatures should fall into the 50s and 60s for most areas, but the high mountain valleys should drop into the 40s.

Sunday: Partly cloudy and a little cooler with showers and thunderstorms likely more numerous across the area. Severe weather again looks unlikely, but thunderstorms Sunday are more likely to produce pockets of heavy rain as they drift over the area. High temperatures should warm into the 80s to lower 90s for the plains with 70s to near 80 for our local mountain communities.

Extended: The air should warm a bit and dry out some on Monday, although some isolated showers and thunderstorms are still possible. Storms may increase in coverage again Tuesday before gradually decreasing across the area later in the week. Thursday through Saturday look to be hot.