National Weather Service Forecast Discussion

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266
FXUS65 KBOU 021956
AFDBOU

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

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms late this
  afternoon and evening, mainly north of I-70.

- 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 /18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday/...
Issued at 1223 PM MDT Wed Sep 2 2026

This afternoon`s wind forecast is a tricky one due to the developing
cyclone just south of Denver, near KAPA. Current winds at KDEN are
ENE, and they will likely stay that way or perhaps fluctuate between
ENE/E/ESE depending on the cyclone`s evolution and track. KAPA`s
winds are more likely to shift NE-N-NW given its proximity to the
center of the cyclone. At KBJC, winds will remain lighter (

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion