El Niño Watch: What You Need to Know for Your Denver Summer

Listen up, Denver. If you thought our weather couldn’t get any weirder, Mother Nature has entered the chat.

If you’ve been planning your summer concert series at Red Rocks or weekend mountain getaways, you’ll want to keep a close eye on the sky. Meteorologists have officially issued an El Niño Watch, with experts noting an increasing probability that the climate pattern will develop later this summer.

For those of us living here in the Mile High City, El Niño typically signals a shift in our usual weather patterns. While the phenomenon is often associated with warmer, drier conditions across the northern United States, it is a different story for other parts of the country; the Southeast can expect increased moisture and a higher risk of flooding.

Here in Colorado, we know that our weather can change in the blink of an eye. While El Niño trends offer a general outlook, they aren’t a guarantee for every afternoon thunderstorm.

As a mom of two  girls, I have enough “heat” in my house to worry about without the planet joining in. Between the mood swings and the constant demand for snacks, I was really hoping for a cool, breezy summer. Instead, it looks like we’ll be doubling down on the sunscreen and praying for the A/C to hold up through August.

So, stock up on the electrolyte drinks and check your window screens, folks. We’re in for a potential rollercoaster.