August 2026 Weather Review: Boulder Notches 2nd Hottest August on Record and 15th Consecutive Month Warmer Than Normal

August 2026 was a month defined by brutal heat, episodic monsoon relief, intermittent smoke, and continued climatological extremes across the Front Range, with most of the West extending a long‑running warm anomaly that has defined the past year and a half. Boulder notched its 2nd‑warmest August on record, capping 15 consecutive months averaging above‑normal temperatures, and even tied its all‑time record high of 104°F during one of several extreme heat pulses. During the month, new records were also set for the number of 95° and 100° days in a single calendar year — a clear marker of how historically persistent the heat has been. The month also featured a brief but meaningful uptick in monsoon moisture, especially in the southern Denver Metro area, where localized downpours provided slight drought improvement and a temporary break from the otherwise parched pattern.

Here’s a graphical look at how August 2026 unfolded across Boulder, Denver, and the Front Range — and how it compared to climatology.

August 2026 Temperatures:

August 2026 Precipitation:

Precipitation totals during August 2026 across the Boulder-Denver Metro area

The 2026 Monsoon Season has largely been pitiful for Boulder especially, with just 1.50″ of rain spread across June and July.

This is despite actually seeing an above normal number of days with rain this summer. More often than note, these were just trace days with a few sprinkles and nothing more.

How does August 2026 fit into the last 76 years?

How does August 2026 fit into the last 12 months?

Drought Update

Colorado remains deeply entrenched in drought, though frequent rains this summer to the east have resolved the drought for some counties east of Denver.

The northeast corner of the state saw continued drought improvement in August after receiving repeated rounds of slow-moving soaking thunderstorms throughout the month. This includes portions of the southern Denver Metro area, but sadly Boulder largely missed out on most of the rain this month.