National Weather Service Forecast Discussion

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658
FXUS65 KBOU 101122
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
522 AM MDT Sun May 10 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered showers decreasing by Sunday morning.

- Summerlike warmth and drier weather next week, with highs in the
  80s for the lower elevations.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Saturday/...
Issued at 219 AM MDT Sun May 10 2026

Relatively warm and mostly dry conditions will dominate the weather
pattern Sunday through the end of the week as an upper level ridge
builds over the southwestern U.S. Temperatures are expected to climb
10 to almost 20 degrees above normal throughout the week, with the
possibility of portions of the plains reaching to the low 90s by
midweek.

Sunday will be the `coolest` day of the forecast period, with highs
reaching up to the 60s to low 70s across the plains, and 50-60s for
higher elevations. Low clouds and isolated light rain showers (10-
30% chance mainly for the eastern plains) in the morning will
quickly dissipate, giving way to mostly clear skies by the
afternoon.

We will begin to feel the heat on Monday as the upper level ridge
shifts east. Temperatures likely will reach up to the mid 80s,
with relative humidity values dropping to the low teens across the
forecast area. Elevated fire weather conditions are possible,
particularly for the northeast plains, as that area has received
the least amount of precipitation from our last couple of events.
However, winds will be the limiting factor, as most guidance keeps
gusts below 25 mph throughout the day. A backdoor cold front
overnight Monday will cool temperatures a bit for Tuesday, but
still expect highs in the upper 70s to low 80s.

Guidance is in good agreement of heat peaking by midweek, as the
axis of the mid-level thermal ridge is progged to be over Colorado
by that time. A few of the GEFS and ECMWF ensemble solutions still
show the potential of KDEN reaching 90 dg on Wednesday, which would
tie our record high temperature. Aside from the heat, daily elevated
fire weather conditions are possible due to low relative humidities
and above normal temperatures. However, wind will continue to be the
limiting factor. Towards the end of the week, the weather pattern
could turn more active as models resolve an upper level shortwave
breaking down our ridge, with Pacific moisture streaming into the
region. As of right now, it looks like the best chance for
precipitation remains north of Colorado, but we could see some rain
showers. Will continue to monitor.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS through 12Z Monday/...
Issued at 522 AM MDT Sun May 10 2026

Light and VRB winds are in place at all terminals and will likely
continue through the morning hours, with generally an easterly
component in the afternoon. Ceilings will gradually improve in the
next few hours, with VFR conditions returning by 15Z/16Z at the
latest.

Winds will remain light (

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion