The Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), released its summer 2025 outlook. The agency expects a hot summer, not only here in Colorado, but across the contiguous United States.

Much of the western United States, including western Colorado, are given the highest probabilities of above average temperatures for the June, July and August timeframe. The eastern two thirds of the state are given slightly less chances.

For northeastern Colorado including Thornton and Denver, the agency gives us a 50 to 60 percent chance of overall above normal temperatures. That certainly would seem to portend a hot one for the Centennial State.

In terms of precipitation, the outlook seems less certainly but does lean toward dryer than normal conditions. Two thirds of Colorado are given a 33 to 40 percent chance of below average levels of precipitation.