National Weather Service Forecast Discussion

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986
FXUS65 KBOU 030537
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1137 PM MDT Wed Sep 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Warmer Thursday and Friday with mainly dry conditions.

- Return of better moisture by the weekend with an
  increasingchance for showers and thunderstorms.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Wednesday/...
Issued at 141 PM MDT Wed Sep 2 2026

Southwest flow aloft will persist and increase this evening. A
shortwave trough will lift northeast across the Great Basin and
into the Northern Rockies. At the base of thetrough a 90-110 knot
jet will prevail. Lift from the jet produced thunderstormsthis
morning over southern Utah. Expect lift from the right entrance
region to trigger scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms
late this afternoon and more so this evening. Instabilitywill be
limited (less than 500 J/kg), as will moisture. Dew points will
only be in the 30s to lower 40s, but mid-level moisture will be
better. A brief period of moderate rain is possible, but overall
precipitation is expected to be light.

For Thursday through Sunday, there will be a longwave trough will
cover the northwest part of the country and an upper-level high
will sit over the southeast. This will result in a southwest flow
aloft over Colorado. Temperatures will run above normal under this
pattern with highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s each day. Dry
conditions are expected Thursday with precipitable water values
slightly below normal. Moisture will slowly increase each day. For
Friday isolated showers and thunderstorms will be possible over
the higher terrain. Saturday will see a slight chance for showers
and storms spreading east onto the nearby plains. By Sunday,
precipitable water values reach 140-180 percent of normal. This
increase in moisture is expected to produce a round of scattered
afternoon/evening thunderstorms.

For next week, the overall pattern over Colorado changes little
as southwest flow aloft persists. The biggest question mark will
be how much moisture lifts northward into the region. Models
generally place us on the edge of the better moisture, leading to
an uncertain forecast. Scattered afternoon/evening showers and
thunderstorms look possible each day at this time, but a slight
shift in the pattern could bring much drier air into the region.
Temperatures are expected to stay above normal with highs in the
mid 80s to lower 90s.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS through 06Z Friday/...
Issued at 1135 PM MDT Wed Sep 2 2026

VFR through the TAF period. Drainage winds are expected tonight
through the first half of Thursday. Main concern in this TAF
period will be the potential for a Denver Cyclone to develop near
the terminals late in the afternoon. Guidance still varies in the
definition of this feature but most feature some sort of cyclone
or shear zone, leading to a lower confidence wind forecast. A few
models also try to develop a brief shower or storm along this
convergence during the evening. A PROB30 may eventually be needed
but would like to see better agreement from CAMs overnight.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...BM
AVIATION...Hiris

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion