It’s Colorado’s and Denver’s hottest start to a year on record, and it’s not even close

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]It is the hottest start to a year for both Denver and Colorado on record. And it is not even close. The new data statewide for Colorado is just in and from January through April. Average statewide temperature of nearly 40°.

[00:00:12]That is more than 2° warmer than the previous record or the previous warmest start to a year. And to put that in perspective, folks, that is a blowout.

[00:00:20]When we're talking about a more than two degree differential, that would be like the Broncos winning by three touchdowns or more or losing. Again, I'm not making it in a win or lose sort of perspective, but there is no doubt that this is a huge gap in terms of this year being so much warmer compared to the last couple of years. Yes, there is no doubt that the Linia weather pattern is playing a role. Yes, there is no doubt that a warming climate is amplifying and making it more extreme and more likely and more extreme when it does happen. But really ultimately here folks, it's been the consistency of the warmth and the fact that we just have had consistent high pressure across the western third of the US. That is what's kept both Colorado and Denver. Denver also a warmest start to a calendar a year on record. So warm in Denver with an average year-to- date temperature of about 45 degrees. Also a warm start to a year on record here as