National Weather Service Forecast Discussion

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293
FXUS65 KBOU 071740
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1040 AM MST Sat Mar 7 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Warming trend returns this weekend, continues through
  Monday/Tuesday.

- Dry weather favored for the foreseeable future, aside from slim
  (20%) chances for light mountain snow showers Tuesday-Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Friday/...
Issued at 1101 PM MST Fri Mar 6 2026

Dry NW flow aloft will be over the area Sat thru Sun.  Main concern
for Sat will be high temps where decent snow cover exists. Naturally
haven`t seen a snow cover map, but based on snow reports, have kept
highs in the lower to mid 40`s where deeper snow cover resides.
Meanwhile, where lower snow cover exists highs may reach the lower
50s.

By Sun, a sfc lee trough will develop east of the mtns with
downslope low level flow.  This will allow for warmer temps Sun aftn
as readings rise into the upper 50`s to mid 60`s across the plains.

For Mon and Tue, the flow aloft will become more westerly with only
some higher level moisture embedded in the flow.  Downslope low
level flow will remain in place on Mon which should allow for highs
in the upper 60`s to mid 70`s over the plains.  On Tue, the
downslope component will weaken as a cold front moves across the
plains by late aftn.  As a result, highs may cool a few degrees but
readings will still be above normal.

By Tue night into Wed the flow aloft will become more NW.  The cold
will move across all of the plains Tue night and bring cooler temps
for Wed as highs drop back into the 50`s over nern CO.  The last few
nights the ECMWF and GFS have had differing solution as to how much
moisture will be embedded in the flow.  Ensemble data from the ECMWF
has shown better moisture while ensemble data from the GFS has been
drier.  As a result, the ECMWF would produce some light precip
mainly over the higher terrain while the GFS basically has no
precip.  For now will leave what the blended solution has for pops
and keep a chc of light precip over the higher terrain.

Looking ahead to Thu and Fri, mainly dry WNW flow aloft will be over
the area as a sfc lee trough redevelops east of the mtns.  This will
lead to increasing downslope low level flow with warmer temperatures.
In addition, will likely see increasing winds over the higher terrain
and near the foothills.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday/...
Issued at 1038 AM MST Sat Mar 7 2026

VFR through the TAF period. With a deep snowpack across the
southeastern metro, drainage winds are likely to persist today and
tonight for DEN/APA, with slightly more variable winds at BJC. No
ceiling or visibility concerns through Sunday.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...RPK
AVIATION...Hiris

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion