NOTE: Some of the data on this page has not been verified and should be used with that in mind. It may and occasionally will, be wrong. The tide reports are by xtide and are NOT FOR NAVIGATION. Privacy and Cookie policy

FXUS65 KBOU 290935 AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 235 AM MST Wed Nov 29 2023

KEY MESSAGES

- Good chance of light snow in the mountains Thursday night through Friday night. Cooler across the plains Thursday and Friday.

- Better chance of accumulating snow Saturday night through Sunday in the mountains with areas of blowing snow. Windy conditions across the foothills and plains Saturday through Sunday.

SHORT TERM
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 230 AM MST Wed Nov 29 2023

The ridge axis will shift eastward today with a weak west/southwest flow aloft over CO. The next system will move into the Desert Southwest by 00z Thursday, and into northwest NM by 12z Thursday.
There will be an increase in high level moisture this afternoon ahead of this system, then some mid level development possible in the mountains by late tonight. Overall still dry. For this afternoon, one more warm day before a cold front pushes across the forecast area. The combination of gusty southwest winds 25-30 mph over the Palmer Divide and low rh values less than 15 percent will produce a brief period of elevated fire weather conditions this afternoon. The main area of concern will be over northern Lincoln and southern Washington counties in the 18-21z period.
Otherwise, breezy conditions will be confined to the mountains mainly above 9000 feet with lighter winds elsewhere.

LONG TERM
(Thursday through Tuesday)
Issued at 152 AM MST Wed Nov 29 2023

An upper level trough will move across New Mexico on Thu with SSW flow aloft across the area. Cross-sections show mid and high level moisture embedded in the flow, however, lower levels are dry so no precip is expected thru the day. At the sfc, high pres behind a cold front will affect nern CO. This will bring cooler temps to the plains with highs in the mid 30s to lower 40's.

For Thu night into Fri, a weak upper level trough will move across the area. This feature will bring a good chc of light snow to the mtns especially Fri into Fri night. Across nern CO, it will be mainly dry, however, can't rule out a slight chc of showers late Friday aftn or evening due to favorable lapse rates as the trough moves across. Highs across the plains will be similar to Thursday.

By Sat, the flow aloft will become NWLY which will continue thru Sun. Moisture will increase in the mtns Sat night into Sun with decent orographics and favorable lapse rates. Thus, should see periods of snow thru the period. At lower elevations, a bora type front may move across late Sat night into Sun. This would bring gusty winds to the foothills and plains with some potential for strong winds in a few areas.

Looking ahead to Mon and Tue, drier air in NW flow aloft will spread across the area. This will decrease the potential for orographic snow in the mtns with dry conditions over the plains. Windy conditions will continue in the foothills and plains on Mon but winds should start to decrease by Tue.

AVIATION
(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday morning)
Issued at 230 AM MST Tue Nov 28 2023

VFR with just some high high clouds through the period. South/ southwest winds 8-14 kts this morning will decrease and shift to east-northeast this afternoon, then back to southeast 01-03z, then a more southerly drainage after 06z. A cold front is expected to push into the terminals after 12z Thursday morning, followed by light east-northeast winds.

BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
None.

toggle option: (graph/table)

Full Color Weather Map

Link to Loop


Other links: GEOS-West     Contential US     Full GOES-East

Denver/Boulder, CO,