Another heat wave is on the way, which could bring temperatures to record highs this week

According to the National Weather Service, a hot, dry air mass has gathered along the Front Range, potentially bringing record temperatures to some areas.

A high-pressure system is driving the heat wave, said Russell Danielson, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Boulder office. The weather pattern is similar to the one that set the state ablaze earlier this month, but it’s not likely to be as hot or as long-lasting.

Still, daytime temperatures are expected to soar into the 90s for much of metro Denver on Monday and into the 100s on Tuesday, Danielson said. Temperatures are likely to drop from record territory after Wednesday.

“The rest of the week will still be warm, but a few degrees cooler,” he said.

The weather service has issued two heat warnings for the Interstate 25 corridor: the first warning is in effect from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and covers El Paso and eastern Fremont counties; the second warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday for the Denver-Boulder metro area, Fort Collins and Longmont.

The warm, dry weather will likely lead to an increased risk of wildfires in some areas, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, Danielson said the relatively light winds will help much of the state avoid the potentially most hazardous fire conditions.

“Because it’s so hot and dry, any ignition can develop into a wildfire quite quickly. Fortunately, the winds aren’t terrible, but we’re still dealing with elevated weather conditions for fires,” he said.

The northerly wind stream that carried large amounts of smoke from the wildfires in Canada and the Pacific Northwest dissipated last week, but there is a chance that westerly winds will continue to carry some smoke from those fires Monday and early this week, Danielson said.