052
FXUS65 KBOU 040027
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
627 PM MDT Fri Jul 3 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Last day of critical fire weather conditions as winds gradually
  relax. However, still plenty of hot, dry weather ahead.

- Another round of nocturnal (and potentially severe) convection
  possible tonight.

- Scattered strong to severe storms expected for the afternoon and
  early evening of the 4th.

- A few storms expected each day of the coming week, with the
  highest probabilities shaping up for Tuesday and Wednesday from
  the Front Range eastward.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Friday/...
Issued at 233 PM MDT Fri Jul 3 2026

Another day (and night) of uncertainty with regard to convective
development. CAMs have not been doing a great job of assessing
potential and duration of nocturnal convection, and amount of low
level moisture surging westward from MCSs in the Central/High
Plains the last couple of nights.

As of early this afternoon, weak convection has been developing
over the northern mountains and foothills. As that moves east onto
the plains, a couple storms are expected to tap into the higher
MLCAPE near 1500-2000 J/kg and become severe late this afternoon
into early evening. Where more uncertainty enters the forecast is
overnight, and that`s when a couple pieces of the puzzle attempt
to come together and produce another round of strong to
potentially severe storms. That potential would extend farther
west toward the I-25 Corridor. That would be fueled by outflow
from the initial round of storms over the northern tier of
Colorado, and potentially another outflow from a more organized
storm complex (MCS) over Nebraska. That second surge would likely
arrive later in the evening, and that could spark storms that
linger well past midnight. At the same time, we`ll also have some
upper level support from the left exit region of an upper level
speed max. While weakly capped, the lift from any upslope would
likely be enough to break through and initiate more storms. MLCAPE
by that time would be a little lower (800-1600 J/kg), but still
enough for a couple strong to severe storms that linger well past
midnight.

Saturday, the 4th of July, is still shaping up to serve up some
of nature`s fireworks. It will likely be a more active
thunderstorm day with higher MLCAPE across the Front Range and
adjacent plains. Some patchy morning stratus is possible, but not
enough to significantly impact warming and cap erosion by early
to mid afternoon. MLCAPE is forecast to increase to 1500-2000 J/kg
along/east of the I-25 Corridor, but at the same time there is
plenty of uncertainty with exactly how far west the greatest
moisture and instability can hold (highly dependent on strength of
surges tonight). Most likely, deeper instability holds roughly
east of I-25, with lesser certainty west of I-25. We think storm
initiation will be in/very close to the Front Range Mountains and
Foothills by early afternoon, with eastward propagation across
the plains from mid afternoon through early evening. 0-6km bulk
shear is forecast to increase to 30-35 kts, enough for supercell
development. Initial isolated severe storms are expected to have a
large hail threat, and those storms may then attempt to organize
into a linear structure onto the plains with a greater high wind
threat (in addition to the hail). A failure mode would be if the
airmass remains too capped due to weak synoptic subsidence seen
arriving in the afternoon. Anyone planning outdoor celebrations or
activities tomorrow should remain weather aware and be prepared
to take shelter or move off open waters before storms arrive.
Finally, with the above mentioned arrival of subsidence, we do
think the vast majority of storms should clear the forecast area
before dark and any fireworks shows.

By Sunday and Monday, upper level ridging builds across Colorado.
While this will tend to stabilize things a bit, it will still be
hot and residual moisture means a continued chance of storms each
afternoon and evening. Typically this pattern has the most
convection occurring over Park County and the Front Range
Mountains into the Palmer Divide area, with lower probabilities to
the north and east. High temperatures will likely reach the 90-95
degree range over the plains, after just slight cooling (near
normal temps) for Saturday.

For Tuesday and Wednesday, the upper level ridge is forecast to
flatten with weak zonal flow developing across the forecast area.
As low level moisture remains locked in east of the Rockies,
instability builds slightly and shear improves so scattered
thunderstorms are expected both days with potential for a couple
severe storms. Temperatures will remain a few degrees above
normal.

Drying is expected for the latter portion of the weak as there is
growing confidence we remain under zonal flow aloft. Some lee
troughing is also forecast, which means the greatest chance of
storms will likely shift to the eastern plains while drier air and
a return of elevated fire weather conditions (with increasing
breezes) is expected over the high country.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS through 00Z Sunday/...
Issued at 625 PM MDT Fri Jul 3 2026

Current radar imagery shows showers and thunderstorms developing
east of the Denver metro area, over the northern Colorado plains,
and off the foothills near the I-25 corridor. One of these
thunderstorms just tracked over KDEN, and has exited the vicinity
to the northeast. The chance for a thunderstorm near the terminals
will increase between 02Z and 05Z, as outflow boundaries from the
storm activity to the southeast and another boundary moving in
from the north collide and fire up additional convection.

A similar setup will be in place tomorrow with winds starting out SW
or variable before becoming ENE-E at KDEN and S-SE at KAPA. Winds at
KBJC will likely turn to the NE and remain light, as has occurred
over the last few afternoons with a cyclone near KDEN and KAPA.
Another round of thunderstorms is expected tomorrow afternoon,
with the peak of activity occurring slightly earlier than today,
between 19Z and 01Z. Gusty outflows up to 35-40KT will be possible
with shower or thunderstorm activity tomorrow.

Smoke aloft will continue to cause slant-range visibility concerns,
especially near sunrise and sunset when the sun angle is low.
Shower activity may provide some relief from the hazy skies but
smoke aloft will continue until a major pattern change arrives, or
until fire activity decreases.


&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning until 7 PM MDT this evening for COZ214.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...20
AVIATION...AA

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion