726 FXUS65 KBOU 152339 AFDBOUArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 539 PM MDT Mon Sep 15 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- A slight chance of a weak afternoon shower or thunderstorm through this evening.
- More unsettled and cooler Tuesday through Thursday, with scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms expected.
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.DISCUSSION /Through Monday/... Issued at 150 PM MDT Mon Sep 15 2025
Water vapor satellite imagery showing a large upper level trough over the northwest part of the country with drier air and weak ridging over Colorado. Other than a couple high based showers, dry conditions are expected through tonight. Satellite imagery is also showing a strong shortwave trough spinning near the Idaho/Wyoming border within the large upper level trough. There is also a second weaker shortwave trough near the Washington/Oregon border. This second one will track southeast bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening. A weak cold associated with this system will bring cooler temperatures Tuesday. The cold front stalls over far eastern Colorado Tuesday. Along and east of this CAPE reaches 2000 J/kg, which may lead to a few strong to severe thunderstorms. On Wednesday, this trough closes off somewhere over northeast Colorado to western Nebraska and becomes part of the larger upper level trough over the central part of the country. For Wednesday, temperatures cool more with showers likely. SBCAPE is reaches up to 500 J/kg, so we should see isolated to scattered storms during the afternoon and early evening.
Come Thursday we will see a broad upper level low over the Northern and Central Plains and ridging to the west. Across Colorado, a north to northwest flow aloft will prevail. Cool temperatures will persist again with highs in the 60s across northeast Colorado. Scattered showers will be possible Thursday, but rainfall amounts should be light.
The ridging off to the west slides eastward Friday and should be centered over Colorado late in the day. Expect dry conditions to return to the area with temperatures warming into the 70s over northeast Colorado.
For the weekend models trend towards a zonal flow, but differ on the placement on the shortwave troughs and ridges. Chances for precipitation look low under this pattern, so will keep the forecast mostly dry. Temperatures will be near to slightly above normal with highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s over northeast Colorado. For early next week, models indicate ridging builds over the southwest part of the country and could extend eastward into the Rockies. Expect dry conditions and above normal temperatures under this pattern.
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.AVIATION /00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday/... Issued at 533 PM MDT Mon Sep 15 2025
There could be an isold high based shower thru 7 pm but have decided to not mention VCSH/Prob30 in the new Tafs. Winds will shift from ESE to south by 03z. By 09z they will become light and variable. On Tue, a cold front will move across by 17z with winds becoming north. By 20Z winds will become NE. There will be a chc of showers/tstms by 21z.
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.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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DISCUSSION...Meier AVIATION...RPK
NWS BOU Office Area Forecast Discussion