National Weather Service Forecast Discussion

Thornton Weather Forecast   
Today's Forecast Story   
405
FXUS65 KBOU 181132
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
532 AM MDT Mon May 18 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Rain and mountain/foothill snow increases in coverage this
  morning with much colder temperatures arriving.

- Accumulating snow for the mountains and the foothills. Only a
  few wet snowflakes possibly mixed in for the I-25 Corridor.

- One last spring freeze possible on some of the plains Monday
  night.

- Delay in the warming and drying trend for the week ahead, but
  still warmer and drier by Friday - next weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Sunday/...
Issued at 1222 AM MDT Mon May 18 2026

An upper level trough over the Great Basin will move across the area
on Mon with favorable mid level ascent thru the aftn hours.  At the
sfc, upslope flow will be in place which will combine with the
upper level trough to produce widespread precip across the area.
Snow will occur in the mtns and higher foothills with several
inches of accumulation. Have upgraded areas north of I-70 in the
mtns to a warning as east facing slopes could see from 12 to 18
inches in some areas. Elsewhere will keep amounts in the advisory
range. In the foothills, some of the higher areas may see 4 to 8
inches above 8000 ft with lessor amounts below 8000 ft.

By Mon night precip should gradually decrease over the area during
the evening hours.  Overnight lows late Mon night into early Tue
morning may drop down to freezing or slightly below across
portions of the plains.

For Tue,  a disturbance will move across the area late in the aftn
thru Tue night.  As this feature moves across, there will be another
round of precip over the higher terrain and across portions of the
plains.  Highs on Tue will remain cool as readings stay in the 50`s
across the plains.

Looking ahead to Wed, an unsettled pattern will continue as decent
lapse rates will combine with lingering moisture to produce a good
chc of showers and thunderstorms over the higher terrain and
portions of the plains.  Most of the activity will occur in the late
aftn and early evening hours.  Highs will remain below normal as
readings only reach the upper 50`s to mid 60`s across the plains.

By Thu into Fri, latest data shows another upper level trough moving
southeast towards the area.  Not sure about the timing of this
system, however, as it moves across should see another good chance
of showers and thunderstorms.  Temperatures both days will be in the
mid 60`s to lower 70`s across the plains.

For next weekend, will see a return to a drier and warmer pattern
based on latest data.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS through 12Z Tuesday/...
Issued at 518 AM MDT Mon May 18 2026

Ceilings are currently bouncing between 300ft and 600ft at the
TAF sites. These IFR and LIFR conditions are expected to continue
through the rest of today and into tomorrow morning. Scattered
light rain showers this morning will increase in coverage late
this morning and early this afternoon, leading to multiple hours
of rain showers and a few thunderstorms. Coverage should start to
decrease near the TAF sites around 21Z to 23Z, leaving some
scattered showers for the late afternoon and evening. Rain chances
will decrease for the overnight period, but there still is a low
chance (051.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...RPK
AVIATION...AP

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion