168
FXUS65 KBOU 070042
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
642 PM MDT Wed May 6 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Snow ending this afternoon. Lingering impacts from broken tree
  limbs and scattered power outages.

- Freezing/near freezing temperatures expected in most areas
  tonight, but guidance has trended several degrees warmer.

- Warmer springlike weather returns for Thursday and remains in
  place through the weekend. Summerlike warmth expected by Monday
  into early next week. Just a couple chances of showers or
  isolated thunderstorms.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Wednesday/...
Issued at 1238 PM MDT Wed May 6 2026

Snow will continue to taper off and end from northwest to
southeast as the late season winter storm exits the area this
afternoon. We`ll see some sunshine return but only modest
temperature recovery. There will be enough warming by mid
afternoon to help the snow laden trees melt off sufficiently and
limit any further significant tree damage or additional power
outages.

Skies will continue to clear this evening, but faster development
of a weak downslope component in most locations means low
temperatures tonight will be several degrees warmer than the
previous forecast. This is despite the existing snow cover. We
think most areas on the plains and I-25 Corridor will now only
bottom out near 30-33F, with only the low lying spots dropping
into the upper 20s. Thus, we`ll keep the Freeze Warning in tact,
but a widespread hard freeze is no longer anticipated in most
locales.

For Thursday, we`ll see an increase in westerly flow aloft and
breezes, locally enhanced near the higher terrain with a few gusts
around 30 mph. This will support strong warming despite fresh snow
cover and even some high clouds. We`ll just shave a couple degrees
off max potential, but even snow covered areas along/west of I-25
should be able to reach the mid 60s given May sun angle and the
downslope. Warmer readings into the lower 70s can be expected over
the northeast plains, with upper 40s and 50s in the mountains.
Isolated to scattered high based showers will produce gusty winds
to 35 mph but only light rain into the evening hours as another
weather disturbance approaches. The majority of these will be over
the mountains and northeastern plains, while the I-25 Corridor
should remain largely dry with sufficient downslope in place.

We can`t totally rule out an isolated shower Friday afternoon and
evening, while another disturbance Saturday into Saturday night
should bring a return of isolated to scattered showers/storms and
slight/brief cooling.

A stronger ridge is still forecast to develop over the Central
Rockies and Great Basin for early next week, with strong agreement
in the ensembles that summerlike warmth (highs in the 80s for the
plains and I-25 Corridor) returns by Monday and lasts into the
middle of next week.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday/...
Issued at 627 PM MDT Wed May 6 2026

VFR conditions expected through the TAF period. Light drainage
winds are expected tonight and those winds should keep any threat
of fog near zero.

Winds will increase out of the west during the late morning on
Thursday. There will be brief periods of gusty westerly winds in
the afternoon with speeds up to 25 knots. An outflow boundary/wind
shift will turn winds to the north or northeast during the early
evening before southeast winds take over during the late evening.

&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Freeze Warning until 8 AM MDT Thursday for COZ038>051.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...20
AVIATION...Danielson

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion