Denver breaks high temperature record set in the 1970s

DENVER (KDVR) – Denver hit 102 degrees Friday afternoon, which officially broke a 52-year-old heat record in the Mile High City.

The last time it was this hot on July 12 was in 1971 when Denver reached 101 degrees.

This is how hot it will feel in Denver this weekend

This isn’t the only heat record that was up for grabs. Both Saturday and Sunday could tie or break heat records as well.

Friday marks the first of three Pinpoint Weather Alert Days. Saturday and Sunday could also see triple-digit temperatures through the heat wave.

While the forecast calls for 100-degree temperatures all weekend, the triple digits aren’t very common in the city — and they’re even less common several days in a row.

Denver doesn’t hit 100 degrees every year

On average, the National Weather Service recorded 105 days that hit over 100 degrees in the last 150 years, which averages to less than one 100-degree day a year.

Some years are hotter than others. For example, the city didn’t see 100 degrees last year. In 2012, the city hit over 100 degrees 13 times over the summer.

While Denver didn’t hit triple digits last year, the city has already seen two 100-degree days so far this year. The forecast is calling for two more this weekend, which is even less common.

Could Denver see rare consecutive 100-degree days this weekend?

Historically, Denver has only seen consecutive 100-degree days 15 times on record, with only six cases reaching more than three to five days.

In case you’re wondering, the highest temperature ever recorded in Denver is 105 degrees.

While Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Travis Michels doesn’t believe the city will break the heat record three days in a row, he forecasts that Sunday will surpass the heat record for July 14: 100 degrees set in 1878.

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