Warmest Rockies home opener ever Friday, 100 mph winds Saturday

Friday could be the Rockies’ warmest home opening ever, beating out 2017’s previous record by just two degrees.

When the first pitch is thrown at Coors Field for the 2024 season at 2:10 p.m. Friday, the Denver stadium will see sunny weather and a high of 76 degrees, according to National Weather Service forecasters.

The previous record for the warmest Rockies home opener was set in 2017 at 74 degrees.

While the warm and dry conditions may spell great weather for baseball fans Friday, the combination put most of Colorado under a red flag warning Friday morning, which is set to continue through 9 p.m., according to NWS.

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or in the near future, NWS meteorologists said in the warning. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Winds gusts of up to 50 mph are expected across Colorado Friday and gusts of up to 100 mph will be possible in the foothills Saturday, NWS meteorologists said.

A high wind watch has been issued for Saturday through Sunday.

Across the front range, Interstate 25 corridor and eastern plains, Colorado can expect constant 40 to 55 mph winds, with gusts of up to 80 mph, according to the wind watch warning.

Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines and create roof and fence damage, meteorologists stated in the wind watch warning. Scattered power outages are possible.

The weekend winds will exacerbate existing fire danger, but as snow starts in the mountains Friday, the gusts could also cause hazardous travel conditions with blowing snow and dust, NWS forecasters said.

The weekend’s approaching storm will bring snow showers to the mountains and possible rain to the metro area Friday night, especially after 1 a.m. Saturday, forecasters said.