National Weather Service Forecast Discussion

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085
FXUS65 KBOU 100557
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1057 PM MST Mon Nov 9 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Above normal temperatures and dry conditions will likely prevail
  through Friday.

- Increasing chances for light mountain rain/snow showers by this
  weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Monday/...
Issued at 1050 PM MST Mon Nov 9 2026

Our weather pattern this week will be dominated by a persistent
upper level ridge over the western United States. This will keep our
forecast area dry with above normal temperatures through Friday. By
this weekend, a weak system could bring light precipitation (30-40%
chance as of now) to the high country and cooler temperatures to the
region.

Current water vapor satellite imagery shows a weak upper level
shortwave over the far Pacific Northwest. This will trek across the
northern United States and into the northern Great Plains Tuesday
and into Wednesday. While this system will be too far away from
Colorado for any precipitation chances, there will be increased
cloud cover over our region on Tuesday, which should keep
temperatures over the Denver area a few degrees cooler than
Monday. However, still expect maximum temperatures to be in the
mid-to-high 60s across the plains. A "cool" front (if you can
even call it that) associated with the system will bring breezy
winds to the northern and eastern plains, with gusts up to 20-30
mph possible in the afternoon. Due to this, elevated fire weather
conditions will be possible. However, relative humidity values
should stay above critical thresholds, especially with the
expected cloud cover.

We will be a bit cooler on Wednesday, with highs in the low-to-mid
60s. But, this will be short-lived as the axis of the upper level
ridge should shift over wester Colorado on Thursday and Friday.
Temperatures in the mid-to-high 60s will return, with a few ensemble
solutions showing low 70s.

Ensemble guidance does favor a weak system moving through the region
over the weekend. This will give us our first chance in a while for
mountain rain/snow showers. Accumulations look light at this point,
given the lack of decent moisture and strong forcing. For the
plains, precipitation chances do not look as favorable over the
weekend. However, there could be an isolated rain shower or two. We
should begin cooling down towards the beginning of next week, with
seasonal temperatures returning and possibly a more active
pattern. Stay tuned...

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS through 06Z Wednesday/...
Issued at 1048 PM MST Mon Nov 9 2026

VFR will persist through the TAF period. Fairly normal drainage
winds from the SW at KDEN will hold through about 15Z, and then
become VRB under 6 kts through about 18Z. While we do see a push
of stronger northwest winds coming off the Cheyenne Ridge after
18Z, most models suggest development of an anticyclone which means
a more NE-E wind component for the TAF sites after 18Z, and even
SE by 00-01Z. There`s a 20-30% chance we could still go more
northerly in the 18Z-00Z period.

There is also uncertainty for wind direction tomorrow evening -
depending on the strength of a subsequent surge moving across the
plains. That could briefly shift winds more N-NE (30-40% chance).
For now, we`ll keep winds more SE til eventually more typical
drainage winds from the S-SW develop, and those would likely be
delayed til after 06Z due to the above mentioned surge.

&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...MAI
AVIATION...20

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion