97 Degrees in Colorado Springs Today -- What Pediatricians Say About Keeping Infants Safe in the Heat
Today's Conditions in Colorado Springs
The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Colorado Springs and the surrounding El Paso County area below 7,400 feet. The advisory is in effect from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. MDT today, July 26. The forecast high is 97 degrees F, with an extreme UV index of 12. Colorado Springs sits at an elevation of 6,035 feet, which significantly amplifies UV radiation compared to sea level. There is a 10 percent chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms beginning after 2 p.m.
The NWS advises residents to avoid outdoor work or activities that could cause heat illness during mid-afternoon hours, to wear sunscreen, and to drink water consistently throughout the day even when not feeling thirsty.
What Pediatricians Are Saying About Infants and Extreme Heat
Pediatricians nationwide issued detailed heat safety guidance in July 2026, timed to the heat patterns affecting much of the country. The guidance covers several practices that are either poorly understood or counterintuitive. For families with infants and toddlers in Colorado Springs today, the key rules are as follows.
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Advertise hereDo Not Cover a Stroller With a Blanket
This is the rule that most consistently surprises parents. Draping a thin cloth or lightweight blanket over a stroller to block the sun feels protective, but it does the opposite: it prevents air from circulating inside the stroller and traps heat around the child. Pediatricians are explicit on this point. The stroller's built-in canopy is the right tool for shading a child outdoors. If a stroller lacks a canopy, a properly designed mesh stroller cover that allows airflow is an acceptable alternative, but a standard blanket or cloth is not.
Check Metal Parts Before They Touch a Child's Skin
Metal stroller frames, car seat buckles, and playground equipment all absorb heat rapidly in direct sun. These surfaces can reach temperatures that cause burns even when they look or feel only moderately warm. Pediatricians recommend testing metal stroller parts and buckles with the back of an adult hand before positioning a child in the stroller. The same applies to playground equipment -- metal slides and metal bars on playgrounds can cause contact burns and are best avoided during the heat of the day.
Prepare the Car Before Putting a Child Inside
Car interiors can heat to dangerous temperatures quickly, even in partial shade and even with windows cracked. Before placing an infant or toddler in a car seat, run the air conditioning or open all doors and windows for 10 to 20 seconds to allow hot air to escape. This step matters even for short stops.
Heat Is Now on the Standard Safety List
Pediatricians noted in July 2026 guidance that they are increasingly adding extreme heat to the standard safety discussion at well-child visits, alongside drowning prevention, choking hazards, and car seat safety. Climate patterns have made extended heat events more common in places that historically saw them rarely, and pediatricians are adjusting their safety guidance accordingly.
Best Outdoor Window for COS Families Today
Given today's conditions, the most comfortable window for outdoor activity is 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The heat advisory officially begins at 10 a.m., but temperatures rise steadily through the morning. Families who attended the Acacia Park Sunday Market earlier today were in a reasonable outdoor window. By noon, temperatures will approach or exceed 90 degrees, and the advisory is in full effect through 9 p.m.
What's Next
The Heat Advisory for Colorado Springs is in effect through 9 p.m. today. After this weekend, the extended forecast for the region is not yet confirmed, but late July in Colorado Springs historically carries ongoing heat risk. The NWS Pueblo office issues regional weather alerts at weather.gov.
The full pediatrician guidance on infant heat safety was syndicated nationally through NPR affiliates in July 2026, starting July 20. COS Parenting will continue covering local weather conditions and family safety guidance throughout the summer.
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