Summer monsoon arrives, have a backup plan for outdoor activities this week

Monsoon season in Colorado generally starts in late July or early August. This year it arrives right on schedule.

The "summer monsoon" is a seasonal shift in wind direction which results in extra moisture being transported into Colorado from the south and southwest. Rain can be heavy when monsoon moisture is healthy and mountain burn scars leftover from recent wildfires can be especially susceptible to flooding.

As the large ridge of high pressure responsible for the hotter than normal weather last week moves from Colorado to Texas in the coming days, the door will open for increasing monsoon moisture each day starting Monday. The best chance for rain will likely wait until Tuesday and Wednesday when the vast majority of areas in Colorado including the Denver metro area will get rain. More rain is in the forecast for Thursday and Friday as well. Some locations could end up with more than 2 inches of rain this week.

Anyone planning activities outdoors should closely monitor the forecast and have multiple ways to receive possible flash flood warnings including the CBS Colorado app on your phone.

The wetter weather will also mean relatively cooler temperatures with 80s along the Front Range for the middle and end of the of the week. High temperatures may stay in the 70s on Saturday.