National Weather Service Forecast Discussion

Thornton Weather Forecast   
Today's Forecast Story   
709
FXUS65 KBOU 012106
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
206 PM MST Sun Feb 1 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Next chance (20-40%) of snow for the area, mainly the mountains
  and Palmer Divide, is later Tuesday into early Wednesday.
  Snowfall amounts look light.

- Warm and dry late next week and next weekend (Thu-Sun).

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Sunday/...
Issued at 206 PM MST Sun Feb 1 2026

Upper level ridge sliding east across the region brought mostly
sunny skies, light winds, and mild temperatures today with highs
in the upper 50s to mid 60s across northeast Colorado. Water vapor
satellite imagery showing a weak shortwave trough moving east
across the Pacific Northwest. This shortwave travels east-
southeast across the Northern Rockies tonight and Monday. We`ll
see an increase in high clouds tonight. Because of the high clouds
and mild airmass, not surprising we`ll see above normal overnight
lows. For Monday, high clouds persist through the morning. A weak
cold (more like cool) front associated with the shortwave trough
pushes southward through the area Monday morning. Northeast winds
pick up with gusts to 25 mph. High temperatures will be 5 to 10F
degrees cooler tomorrow with highs in the 50s across northeast
Colorado.

Northwest flow aloft continues for Tuesday. Temperatures cool a
little more under this pattern with highs in the upper 40s to mid
50s for northeast Colorado. For Tuesday night, a shortwave and a
jet pushes south across Colorado. The left exit region of the jet
will produce lift Tuesday night, but moisture will be limited as
this system travels southeastward across the North American
Rockies. Ensembles are about 50/50 if the Denver area sees
snowfall or not. The half that shows snow, all keep snowfall
amounts light. The best chance for snow with this system will be
over the mountains and Palmer Divide where orographic lift will
also add to the lift. Light snow or a few flurries could linger
into Wednesday, but with subsidence moving in, skies are expected
to quickly clear Wednesday. Temperatures at 700mb start off -7 to
-11C Wednesday, but warm through the day. Highs for Wednesday will
be slightly cooler again with mid 40s to lower 50s expected.

For Thursday through next weekend, a strong blocking upper level
high that`s been to our west shifts eastward over the Central
Rockies for Thursday and Friday. Temperatures warm back up with
highs reaching the upper 50s to mid 60s for northeast Colorado.
Not much change for Saturday and Sunday as well. Large ridging
continues across the western half of the country. Models tend to
show a weak shortwave trough under cutting or passing through the
ridge. If this were to occur, we may see an increase in high
clouds, but still no precipitation. The 12Z ECMWF ensembles and
GEFS all show Thursday through Sunday staying dry.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday/...
Issued at 1037 AM MST Sun Feb 1 2026

VFR conditions through the TAF period. Winds are becoming light
(generally less than 10 kts) and VRB for DEN and APA, and will
eventually transition to SE by 23Z/00Z. For BJC, expect light
winds with westerly gusts up to 15 kts at times through 21Z.
Typical drainage pattern this evening and overnight. By late
morning tomorrow, winds will shift to the NE, with brief gusts up
to 15-20 kts possible. Light NE winds under 10 kts expected by
21Z.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...12
AVIATION...MAI

NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion