Colorado heat wave builds with records expected to fall

An unseasonably intense heat wave is building across Colorado, and the focus isn't only on the temperatures, but the fire danger that comes with it.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect on Thursday across northern Colorado from eastern Larimer county over into northern Weld county. As a combination of warm temperatures, gusty winds, and extremely low humidity creates critical fire weather conditions.

Winds in the area will gust around 30 mph through the afternoon, with higher gusts for the Cheyenne Ridge and the foothills communities.

A strong ridge of high pressure, essentially a "heat dome," is settling over the western U.S., pushing temperatures 20 to 30 degrees above average for mid-March. 

Across Colorado, temperatures will climb into the 70s and 80s in many areas, with record-breaking temperatures likely through the weekend.

Three record highs should fall this week with at least two of them smashing the all-time record high of 84 degrees.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are all forecast to be record-breaking afternoons. Not only are we forecast to break daily records, but Denver will likely break an all-time March record. The warmest temperature to date in March is 84 degrees.