National Weather Service Forecast Discussion

Thornton Weather Forecast   
Today's Forecast Story   
616
FXUS65 KBOU 211724
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1024 AM MST Sat Feb 21 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Cooler weekend, well around average temperatures, before another
  big warm-up next week.

- Shot of moisture Wednesday in the high country with stronger
  winds across the urban corridor and plains.

- Fire weather concerns increase mid-week.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Friday/...
Issued at 1149 PM MST Fri Feb 20 2026

As has been the theme for our winter in eastern Colorado, winds
and more winds. Saturday won`t be windy per se but it`ll be breezy
over the far eastern plains in the wake of a weak cool front
adding to some downsloping off the Cheyenne Ridge. Sunday we will
see some return flow and clearing skies to allow temperatures to
moderate a tad back to a few degrees above normal.

Monday we`ll likely, 70% chance, see daytime highs over the urban
corridor and the plains reach into the low to mid-60s and then 65-
90% chance of 70 degrees on Tuesday. 70 degrees is 25 degrees
above average and with no moisture, relative humidities will
bottom out in the low-teens/upper single digits Monday and
Tuesday. Winds look to take a break fortunately with ridging
moving close enough to the area. Then we turn to Wednesday with
the approach of the next short-wave trough of low pressure.

Deeper mixing is expected on Wednesday while a dry front tries to
slide through the region...similar to Tuesday`s front from earlier
this week. Some guidance is hinting at moisture spilling onto the
Front Range with the shortwave trough, but thinking it`s overdone
and the coarser resolution bleeds too much to the east of the
divide. Regardless, Wednesday will be windy from the urban corridor
and eastward with with a decent low and upper level jet structure.
The shortwave does produce some snowfall in the high country during
the day with whatever moisture it has available, maybe a couple of
tenths of liquid. Thursday also looks warm and mostly dry with
breezy/windy conditions over the plains once again.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday/...
Issued at 1015 AM MST Sat Feb 21 2026

VFR conditions thru the period. Wind wise, there is a weak Denver
cyclone over nwrn Denver which has allowed for a S/SE wind at
APA/DIA. This feature is supposed to start moving east which would
allow winds to gradually go more SW and then north by 20Z and NE
by 23z. However, if it doesn`t move then winds could just stay
mainly S/SE thru the aftn so will have to monitor this the next
few hours. BJC may stay more NW thru the aftn hours.

For this evening at APA/DIA, winds will be mainly SE and then may
go just light and variable by 06z. Late tonight winds will become
SW/SSW between 09z and 11z. At BJC, winds will be light and
variable tonight.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Heavener
AVIATION...RPK

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion