Weather

Denver will be cool and cloudy on Sunday, but don’t expect such conditions to last for long: The summer heat will return later this week.

The conditions of the El Niño weather pattern, which could bring a much-needed wet winter to Colorado, are present and expected to grow stronger than usual this coming year, according to the National Weather Service.

Much of the Eastern Plains is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m. Tuesday, with possible hazards including hail the size of ping-pong balls.

A member of the Denver Fire Department triggered the errant tornado siren that sounded across the city Monday after he received a false report of a tornado on the ground that he failed to double-check before sounding the alarm.

Critical fire danger will return across Colorado on Tuesday as temperatures climb, humidity drops and winds strengthen, according to the NWS.

Large hail is expected to hit the Denver metro area, Fort Collins and the Eastern Plains in Colorado on Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Thunderstorms will be possible in Denver between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday, according to hourly forecasts from the National Weather Service.

High temperatures are expected to reach 90 degrees in the metro area on Friday, with expected highs over the weekend in the mid-90s, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.

Parts of the Front Range could see damaging hail and high winds on Wednesday afternoon as a severe thunderstorm moves through the area, National Weather Service forecasters said.

At least four days of near-record or record-breaking heat will hit Denver starting Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.