139
FXUS65 KBOU 090605
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1105 PM MST Thu Jan 8 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered snow showers continue late tonight. Heaviest snowfall
  is still expected to fall across the southern foothills and
  Palmer Divide through the early morning.

- A Winter Weather Advisory was issued for southern Lincoln and
  Elbert Counties tonight into tomorrow for snow and gusty winds.

- The coldest temperatures will occur Friday night with lows in
  the low teens across the plains and urban corridor.

- Moderating temperatures this weekend, with dry weather
  prevailing through early next week.

- The next chance for precipitation will come Wednesday into
  Thursday.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Thursday/...
Issued at 248 PM MST Thu Jan 8 2026

Water vapor imagery shows a departing shortwave trough currently
over southern Iowa with the deformation zone on the west side of
the trough departing eastern Colorado. The QG ascent that was
over our forecast area has shifted to neutral stability this
afternoon resulting in limited coverage of snow showers. However,
the steep lapse rates in the mountains have lead to a few
scattered snow showers developing over the higher terrain. Some
of these may drift over the western I-25 corridor before
dissipating with minimal snow. Without QG forcing aloft, these
scattered weak snow showers will be the only precipitation that
occurs through the evening hours.

Water vapor imagery also shows a shortwave trough that is becoming
stronger over Arizona. This trough will head eastward tonight and
will end up over the Oklahoma panhandle Friday evening. This
trough will bring weak QG ascent to our forecast area especially
the southern half of our forecast area later tonight. Around
midnight to 3AM tonight, models have been consistent in showing a
cold front with moderate northerly winds moving through the I-25
corridor. Given the moisture currently in place, this front will
help to develop snow showers over the I-25 corridor and southern
foothills tonight. While high resolution models are all over the
place regarding snow in the Denver metro tonight, the thinking is
that 0.5-2" of additional accumulation is still likely to fall
with the higher amounts on the south side of the metro. Over the
Palmer Divide and eastward into Lincoln County, the upslope flow
behind the front along with the QG ascent from the passing trough
will combine to create more widespread snow. For southern Elbert
and Lincoln Counties, the snowfall forecast was uncertain but 2-6"
is the best estimate. If that were to occur, the strong winds up
to 45 mph that are expected to form later tomorrow morning, will
blow the snow around and could create low visibility and hazardous
travel conditions. Therefore, a Winter Weather Advisory was
issued for that area from midnight to 11 AM.

The mountains will continue to see light snowfall throughout the
night. Given the precipitation currently occurring on the Grand
Junction radar, generally 2-4" of additional snow accumulation
will fall by midday tomorrow.

Subsident flow will quickly move over our forecast area by midday
Friday which will put an end to the snow. It will be a chilly and
breezy day compared to what we have gotten used to in Denver this
winter. Wind chills will be in the low 20s throughout the daylight
hours and will fall to the single digits Friday night. Air
temperatures will fall to the teens across the plains and to the
single digits in the foothills and mountain valleys Friday night.

Saturday through Tuesday will have dry weather with warming
temperatures. Highs across the plains will reach the 50s on Sunday
and some 60s are possible on Monday and Tuesday. The next chance
for precipitation will come Wednesday into Thursday. A couple of
shortwave troughs within the northwesterly flow aloft could bring
snow to the mountains and a mix of snow and rain to the plains.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday/...
Issued at 1043 PM MST Thu Jan 8 2026

Snow showers largely remain south of the TAF sites late tonight,
with KAPA being the only one seeing some light snow over the past
hour. Still expecting some light snow showers over the next few
hours, with ceilings hovering around 1000-2000 feet. Could see CIG
drop as low as 500 feet, with reduced visibilities as low as
1-2SM under any passing snow showers, with the greatest impacts
expected at KAPA. Still looking like snow should taper off by
11-13Z after northerly winds increase, bringing in drier air and
northerly gusts between 20-25 kts across the TAF sites between
12-14Z. Ceilings will slowly improve through the morning, with VFR
conditions expected between 18-21Z. Drainage winds are expected to
settle in for the overnight hours by 4/5Z across the TAF sites.

&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST Friday for COZ031-033-
034-036-041.

Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST Friday for COZ047.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Danielson
AVIATION...9

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion