Denver weather: Record heat forecast in city on Christmas, snow returns to mountains

Denver is on track to see its hottest Christmas in history, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures are forecast to peak at 70 degrees in Denver on Christmas, which would break the 69-degree record set in 2005, according to weather service records.

Fire weather conditions have been elevated to near-critical and will threaten the foothills on Christmas, according to a hazardous weather outlook. Record and near-record holiday heat is also expected across the metro area and Eastern Plains, weather service forecasters said.

As of Wednesday morning, other Christmas heat forecasts included:

• 68 degrees in Boulder, which would tie the city’s record set in 2005;
• 49 degrees in Breckenridge, which would break the city’s 47-degree record set in 1906;
• 70 degrees in Brighton, which would break the 63-degree record set in 1980;
• 67 degrees in Castle Rock, which would break the 66-degree record set in 1971;
• 57 degrees in Estes Park, which would break the 54-degree record set in 1959;
• 62 degrees in Evergreen, which would tie the record set in 1971;
• 70 degrees in Lakewood, which would break the 63-degree record set in 1963;
• 69 degrees in Limon, which would tie the record set in 1955;
• And 50 degrees in Walden, which would break the 45-degree record set in 1994.