If it feels like Colorado has been unusually warm this year, you’re not imagining it. Through the first seven months of 2026, Denver has recorded its warmest January through July on record, continuing weather observations that date back to 1872.
Unlike years remembered for a single heat wave or one exceptionally hot month, 2026 has stood out because of its steady warmth. Every month from January through July has finished above average, with February and March delivering particularly remarkable departures from normal.
Warmth Began Early
The year got off to a mild start with January finishing 2.7°F above average, followed by an exceptionally warm February that averaged 9.4°F above normal. February’s average high temperature reached 58.3°F—nearly 13 degrees above average—and Denver climbed to 71°F twice during the month.
March was even more impressive. The average temperature finished 10.0°F above normal, making it one of the warmest Marchs in Denver’s history. On March 25, the city reached 87°F, tying the warmest temperature ever observed during the month of March and setting a daily record.
The warmth continued through spring. April averaged 2.4°F above normal, May finished 0.5°F above average, and June came in 1.6°F warmer than normal. By the time July arrived, Denver had already built an impressive temperature surplus for the year.
July Has Added to the Record
July has done little to slow the trend.
Through July 21, the average temperature for the month stood at 77.7°F, or 2.8°F above normal. High temperatures averaged 93.9°F, while overnight lows averaged 61.5°F, offering limited relief after sunset.
The month has also featured an impressive string of hot afternoons:
- 19 of the first 21 days reached 90°F or hotter
- Denver hit 100°F on July 20, the first triple-digit reading of the year
- Cooling Degree Days totaled 272, which is 64 above normal through July 21
The heat has been accompanied by relatively dry conditions. February, April, June, and July all finished well below average in precipitation, with just 0.46 inches of rain falling through the first 21 days of July.
A Historic Stretch
Monthly temperature departures illustrate just how persistent the warmth has been:
- January: +2.7°F
- February: +9.4°F
- March: +10.0°F
- April: +2.4°F
- May: +0.5°F
- June: +1.6°F
- July (through July 21): +2.8°F
It’s uncommon for every month through late July to finish above average, especially with two months running nearly 10°F warmer than normal. Together, those monthly departures have produced the warmest start to any year in Denver’s 154-year weather record.
While the remainder of 2026 has yet to be written, the first seven months have already secured a place in the record books. From an unusually mild winter to a scorching midsummer, Denver has experienced its hottest start to a year since weather observations began in 1872.