894
FXUS65 KBOU 302016
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
216 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Mountain snow expected through this evening and decreasing
  overnight, with travel impacts likely.

- Chances for rain showers over the Urban Corridor and adjacent
  plains have decreased.

- Warmer and drier conditions expected for the weekend.

- Unsettled weather returns Monday night increasing chances for
  mountain snow and rain showers over the plains.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Thursday/...
Issued at 216 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026

Current radar imagery shows snow showers are picking up over the
Front Range. While the latest high-res model guidance has trended
drier over the plains and lower elevations, there is still a good
chance for snow accumulations between 4 and 10 inches for the high
elevation areas under the Winter Weather Advisory. Travel will be
poor to hazardous, particularly at the higher passes and as
road temperatures cool after sunset.

We decided to lower PoPs a bit over the plains, but there is still a
decent chance (50-70%) for a few showers to develop over the Denver
metro area this afternoon and early evening. We have also reduced
QPF amounts across the region given that we do not expect QPF to be
greater than 0.10"-0.20" over Denver. Snow levels around 6500-7000ft
this evening may lead to some light snow accumulations on grassy
surfaces over the Palmer Divide as well as some slush on pavements.

Snow and rain shower activity will taper off overnight except for a
few lingering snow showers over the southern Front Range and
Mosquito Range into early Friday morning. There is a small chance
(20%) for an afternoon shower over the Denver metro area Friday
afternoon as daytime destabilization occurs, but QPF amounts will
be limited to no more than a few hundredths.

Warm and dry weather will arrive for the weekend as an upper level
ridge sits over Colorado, allowing temperatures to climb into the
upper 60s and low 70s over the plains. Cloud cover will increase
late Sunday afternoon due to a surge of mid-level moisture from the
Pacific. However, it appears that the main source of moisture for
next week`s unsettled weather will be a a push of moisture sliding
down from Alberta into the northern plains as a ridge axis sits over
southeast Alaska and a trough strengthens to the east. While it is
still too early for specific amounts, Monday evening into Tuesday
looks to be the next best chance for measurable snow in the
mountains and a few showers over the plains. A cold front will bring
cooler temperatures for Tuesday and Wednesday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday/...
Issued at 1201 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026

The lower ceilings finally settled over the airport at about 16Z
earlier this morning. Will keep ceilings down in the BKN-OVC012-022
range the rest of today and much of this evening and maybe a tad
lower with the showers. Will mainly keep a PROB30 in for -SHRA the
rest of today. Models are still hanging on to better chances of
rain this evening at DIA so will go with a TEMPO group from
0100/0103 for -SHRA. Ceilings should lift significantly around 07Z
tonight. For winds, the current northeasterlies are expected to
go due easterly later this afternoon, maybe even southeast by
early evening. Speeds look to be under 10 knots by late afternoon
onward. Some sort of weak drainage, or a downslope/drainage mix is
expected by 07Z.

&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM MDT Friday for COZ033-034-037.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...AA
AVIATION...66

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion