Could Denver make another run at record warmth this week?

Colorado is well known for its abrupt weather swings, and another one is set to take place in the coming days. The cold, winterlike winds and mountain snow of this weekend will soon be another distant memory.

As winds shift to a milder, southwesterly direction and the sunshine returns, temperatures in northeast Colorado will be propelled 10 to 20 degrees above normal over the next several days. This translates into a stretch of highs in the middle to upper 60s for Denver and the urban corridor. This latest November warm- up is being driven by something that meteorologists refer to as a high amplitude pattern. The jet stream across the United States is becoming quite wavy this week. The big dip in the jet stream will be sending a shot of winter- like chill into the eastern states, while a large ridge builds over the Rockies.

The Front Range will be under the crest of this highpressure ridge at midweek. This is when the warm pattern will start to reach its peak, and when some thermometers could surpass the 70- degree mark once again.

Normal highs this time of year are in the lower 50s. Whenever highs start approaching 20 degrees above normal, you need to begin thinking about records being in jeopardy.

Here are the current records to beat in Denver later this week:

Wednesday, Nov. 18: 78 degrees, 2008

Thursday, Nov. 19: 79 degrees, 1989

Friday, Nov. 20: 72 degrees, 2006

The outstanding records for Wednesday and Thursday look to be well out of reach. If the warmth lingers into Friday, the current record high of 72 degrees could easily be challenged.