DENVER -- A heated election day with a spectacular sunset Tuesday gave way to record heat across eastern Colorado on Wednesday. Denver set an all-time November high of 80 degrees at 1:23 pm.

Other locations with new record highs for the date include Pueblo at 85 degrees, which also set a new all-time record high. Colorado Springs reached 78 degrees Wednesday afternoon, tying the November all-time high temperature.

On Tuesday 7NEWS Chief Meteorologist and his forecast team called the potential all-time record high, forecasting 80 degrees for Wednesday.

"We took a chance and it paid off," said Nelson. "Most of the forecast models projected middle to upper 70s in Denver, but with the very dry air and downsloping winds, we just had a feeling."

A downsloping wind dries and warms the atmosphere, something in meteorology known as compressional warming.

The bubble of unseasonably warm air over eastern Colorado also extended into portions of the central plains, with widespread 80s also reported in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska on Wednesday.

Hopefully you were able to get outside and enjoy the past few days, because a big weather change is on the way in the form of a cold front.

By noon Thursday, cooler weather will move into Colorado along with chilly north winds. Afternoon highs on Thursday will struggle to reach the lower 60s, and by Friday, will hang in the upper 40s around Denver and on the eastern plains.

The incoming storm system is "moisture-challenged" and will only produce a few rain and snow showers, though a few inches of snow is possible along the Continental Divide above 9,000 feet heading into the weekend.

If you missed the fantastic sunset Tuesday night, check the November digital album slideshow linked at the top of this story.