262
FXUS65 KBOU 261144
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
444 AM MST Mon Jan 26 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Cold Weather Advisory in effect into this morning for all of
  the lower elevations as wind chills approach -20F by morning.

- Gusty winds in and near the foothills Monday morning may lead to
  areas of blowing snow and poor visibility especially along
  Highway 93.

- Warmer and drier Monday through Wednesday...

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 903 PM MST Sun Jan 25 2026

Snowfall has ended for all but the I-70 corridor southward to the
SE of Denver where flurries will continue for a few more hours,
but producing little/no additional accumulation.

Updated our forecast grids this evening to knock down temperatures
across the board, but most considerably in our high valleys where
cold pools will show their full force. Cowdrey, in North Park, is
already registering -15F, and would expect the coldest locations
to push -25F as skies clear. Whilst winds are currently rather
light across our lower elevations, it`s not so in the mountainous
terrain, where gusts above 50 mph are quite widespread near and
above timberline. A weak mountain wave looks to develop tonight
and help spread some slightly breezier winds into the adjacent
lower elevations of the urban corridor. Combined with enhanced
drainage flow off the Palmer Divide, fresh snow cover, and
clearing skies, wind chills are anticipated to drop into the -15F
to -20F range across pretty much all of our plains and urban
corridor. This makes for an easy decision to expand the Cold
Weather Advisory for tonight westward to include all of the I-25
corridor, including the Denver metro and Palmer Divide.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Sunday/...
Issued at 137 PM MST Sun Jan 25 2026

Surge of colder air moving across the nern plains this aftn will
enhance upslope flow along the I-25 Corridor.  Meanwhile a
disturbance in NNW flow aloft will move across the area thru the
early evening hours.  This feature will have favorable mid level
ascent with it as it moves across.  Thus, will see snow spread from
north to south across the I-25 Corridor, foothills and adjacent
plains.  With rather high snow ratios, snowfall amounts may end up a
bit higher than models are forecasting.  Thus have issued a winter
weather advisory for the I-25 Urban Corridor for later this aftn
thru mid evening as expect slick roads to develop rather quickly.
Snowfall amounts will be in the 2 to 4 inch range with the higher
amounts expected along and west of I-25.  Another are that could see
some decent accumulations are across portions of Lincoln county but
confidence is lower as to where it may exactly occur.  By mid
evening snow will quickly end from north to south and should exit
the far sern plains by midnight.

Temperatures overnight will drop below zero across most of the
plains into the I-25 Urban Corridor and linger through mid morning
on Mon.

On Mon, drier air in NW flow aloft will spread across the area with
downslope flow developing.  This will allow for warmer temps as
readings rise into the upper 30`s to mid 40`s across the plains.
Meanwhile, a mtn wave will begin to develop late tonight and
continue thru Mon aftn.  This will allow for gusty winds to occur in
and near the foothills.  With fluffy type snow cover, expect areas
of blowing snow and reduced visibility in the normal windy areas.
As a result, Highway 93 may have some issues Mon morning.

For Tue, a weak disturbance in NW flow aloft will move across the
area.  Cross-sections show limited moisture in the mtns so will just
keep in a slight chc of snow showers.  Elsewhere, it will be dry
with seasonal temps.

By Wed, an upper level ridge will build into the area with dry
conditions and warmer temps.  Another weak system may affect the
mtns late Wed night into Thu bringing a chc of snow showers.  Across
the plains it will remain dry with above normal temperatures.

For Thu and Fri,  mainly dry NW flow aloft will remain over the
area.  The ECMWF tries to backdoor a shallow surge of colder into
nern CO on Fri.  Meanwhile the GFS keeps this air further to the
east.  At this point, it`s not clear which solution is the best. For
now, have gone with the blended solutions which drops readings
back below normal on Fri across the far nern plains.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS through 12Z Tuesday/...
Issued at 442 AM MST Mon Jan 26 2026

Models are showing the drainage/south-southwesterly winds to give
way to westerlies by late morning today continuing into early
evening, before drainage patterns develop again by 03Z. There
will be no ceiling issues.

&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Cold Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST this morning for COZ038>051.

&&

$$

UPDATE...BRQ
DISCUSSION...RPK
AVIATION...66

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion