National Weather Service Forecast Discussion

Thornton Weather Forecast   
Today's Forecast Story   
764
FXUS65 KBOU 291134
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
534 AM MDT Sat Aug 29 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Warm again today, with increased chances of showers and
  thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.

- Active monsoon pattern continues Sunday and Monday.

- Warm and dry pattern returns for most of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Friday/...
Issued at 212 AM MDT Sat Aug 29 2026

Water vapor satellite imagery suggests that the plume of deeper
monsoon moisture is slowly approaching our forecast area tonight,
with broad southwesterly flow aloft to the north of a slowly
weakening ridge.

Today will see more scattered showers and thunderstorms, with a
bit more coverage compared to yesterday. A slight increase in
boundary layer moisture along with slightly cooler mid-level
temperatures will lead to a modest increase in instability for the
afternoon, and convective initiation will likely be aided by a
sagging mid-level front this afternoon and evening. Both the HREF
and REFS suggest widely scattered thunderstorms developing by the
early afternoon, and at least a few showers and storms are likely
to linger through most of the evening and early overnight hours
(especially closer to the front).

The plume of monsoon moisture isn`t expected to move much on
Sunday. The lack of synoptic forcing will likely limit storm
coverage across the plains, but scattered showers and storms
are forecast across the high country during the afternoon hours.

A more pronounced shortwave is expected to move through the region
on Monday or Monday night, leading to an increase in storm
coverage across most of the state. Recent models are a little too
slow with this wave for most of our forecast area to benefit from
the increased synoptic scale ascent, with better chances for
precipitation off to the south and west of our CWA. Still, widely
scattered showers/storms are forecast again, perhaps lingering
through most of the overnight hours across the plains where
the environment would support elevated convection.

Moisture quickly diminishes by Tuesday as the ridge continues to
weaken and push off to the east. The latter half of the week looks
rather quiet with the ridge restrengthening over the southeastern
CONUS, before slowly drifting back towards the region as we
approach next weekend. High temperatures should approach 90F
across the plains most days, with a gradual warming trend likely
by this time next week.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS through 12Z Sunday/...
Issued at 531 AM MDT Sat Aug 29 2026

VFR through the TAF period. Drainage winds this morning will
slowly turn more to the west, which should then prevail through
most of the day today.

Convection still looks on track to develop around 19-21z this
afternoon. Inverted-V soundings will again favor gusty outflow
winds, though there is enough instability today for some TSRA
potential as well. Guidance still lingers some showers/storms into
evening hours, and are in better agreement on bringing a frontal
push (or perhaps just an organized outflow) from the north by
about 03-06z.

Drainage winds are still expected to develop later Saturday night,
and should slowly turn clockwise through Sunday morning.

&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Hiris
AVIATION...Hiris

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion