Aspen, Roaring Fork Valley, avoid heat dome

As most of the Southwest endures a heat dome, Aspen and the greater Roaring Fork Valley will avoid the scorching temperatures this week.

An early summer heatwave has been affecting much of the Southwest since the beginning of June, causing highs of over 100 degrees in Nevada, California, Arizona, and New Mexico. The heat is breaking calendar-day records in several cities. 

While some of southern Colorado will experience higher heat than normal, Aspen will avoid the extreme temperatures this week, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.

But the NWS issued a hazardous weather outlook for the Elk Mountains and other surrounding areas in western Colorado for Monday due to hot, dry, and windy conditions contributing to wildfire potential. Several red flag warnings were issued, but not in Aspen or Pitkin County.

A red flag warning was issued for Garfield County Monday, until 10 p.m. No burning is permitted while the warning is in place.

A cold front Tuesday will bring highs up to 10 degrees below normal, according to the NWS. But temperatures will rise Wednesday and tropical moisture moving through the west will bring thunderstorms beginning Thursday and lasting potentially through Sunday.