Denver's looming heat wave could bring record-breaking temperatures

Record-breaking high temperatures are forecast to hit Denver later this week, according to the National Weather Service.

Why it matters: Severe heat poses significant health risks and can exacerbate the threat of wildfires and drought conditions .

• Denver is experiencing moderate drought conditions for the first time in over a year .

Threat level: The "life-threatening" heat wave hovering over California is expected to move across Colorado starting Friday, bringing triple digits and very little moisture to Denver and the Plains through the weekend.

• The high temperature forecast for Denver is 101 on Friday and 100 on Saturday and Sunday — all three of which would be the record highs for those dates, per the NWS.
• Multiple weather models show that a high of 103 or 104 is "well within reason" in Denver, according to the NWS' online forecast discussion .

Yes, but: It's unlikely that Denver will reach the all-time record high of 105, NWS meteorologists predict.

What they're saying: "Regardless of the exact temperatures, this period will have the potential to create significant health impacts if the proper precautions are not taken," an NWS meteorologist wrote in the online discussion. That includes staying hydrated and avoiding strenuous activities during the middle of the day.

• The NWS is encouraging emergency management officials to prepare for opening cooling shelters.

The intrigue: It's rare for the Mile High City to see consecutive 100-degree days. Just 15 occurrences have happened since 1872, 9News reports .

Flashback: Last month also set records in Denver for above-normal temperatures, per the NWS. For example, the high on June 12 was 97, breaking the previous record in 1952.

• The mean temperature in the city last month was 73.8 — nearly 6 degrees above normal.

The big picture: Multiple studies show human-caused climate change , largely from burning fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, has greatly increased the odds of heat waves and led them to become more intense and longer lasting, Axios' Andrew Freedman writes.

Go deeper: Denver's weather forecast is accurate only 2 days out