Wheat Ridge, Colorado 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

975
FXUS65 KBOU 141544
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
944 AM MDT Mon Apr 14 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Snow showers ending early this morning.

- Warmer temperatures expected Tuesday through midweek.

- Active weather pattern on track to end the week, with potential
  for mountain snow and widespread lower elevation precipitation.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 930 AM MDT Mon Apr 14 2025

Visible satellite shows clouds are slowly clearing from north to
south across the forecast area after the latest batch of rain and
snow showers this morning. Weather reports show totals ranging
from around .5" to 1.5" of new snowfall for portions of metro
Denver, and around 3" for the southern foothills this morning.
With clear skies still expected by later this morning giving way
to plenty of sunshine this afternoon, the snow won`t stick around
long. The current forecast is on track with no significant changes
made on this update.


&&

.SHORT TERM /Through Tonight/...
Issued at 218 AM MDT Mon Apr 14 2025

Left exit region of a jet streak will continue to bring rain and
snow showers through sunrise. Give latest radar trends, best lift
associated with the jet streak is north of I-70. As temperatures
cool between now and sunrise, most of the showers will become
snow. The brief duration of heavier snow and warm ground
temperatures will result in minor accumulations for most areas
across the lower elevations with no impacts expected. A few inches
of snow will be possible in the higher foothills and mountains.
Temperatures are in the 20s and a few of the roadways may become
snow and/or slush covered.

It is much drier just to the north across southern Wyoming and
extreme northern Colorado. Lift from the jet streak is expected to
exit the area around sunrise (6-7AM), bringing the showers to an
end. This drier air to the north filters into the area this
morning bringing mostly sunny to sunny skies by noon. The clear
skies then persist the rest of today and tonight. It will be
cooler today with highs in the mid 50s to lower 60s. Overnight
lows will be near normal with mid to upper 20s across the eastern
plains with 30s along the I-25 corridor.

&&

.LONG TERM /Tuesday through Sunday/...
Issued at 218 AM MDT Mon Apr 14 2025

On Tuesday, temperatures should warm back up to the 70s over the
plains as an upper level ridge builds over the Rockies. At the
surface, a high pressure system in our area will travel southeast,
resulting in southerly winds bringing in warmer temperatures. Due to
tighter pressure gradients over the eastern plains, wind gusts up to
20-30 mph with brief isolated 40 mph gusts are expected across the
eastern plains.

Guidance has indicated a weak shortwave trough embedded in the upper
level ridge passing over southern Colorado sometime Tuesday
afternoon/evening. Light showers, with snow above 10,000 ft., are
possible mainly across the southern Front Range mountains. There
is a small chance (20%) that showers could spill onto the plains,
most likely along the Palmer Divide by Tuesday evening. However,
temperatures will most likely be too warm for any snow to fall.

The upper level ridge should flatten by Wednesday, resulting in
relatively weak westerly flow aloft. With cross barrier flow up to
30 kts, it will be breezy across the higher elevations in the
mountains. Downsloping winds will also create breezy conditions
across the plains, and aid in compressional heating. 700-mb
temperatures of 5-8 degrees C will support surface high temperatures
in the 70s. As a dry air mass settles in the plains, there could be
widespread relative humidity values in the low teens. However, with
winds expected to only gust up to 20 mph and with recent
precipitation, elevated fire weather conditions should be very
localized.

After that, an active pattern is expected by Wednesday
night/Thursday, with multiple rounds of precipitation. Ensembles
continue to indicate a system developing in the southwest and
progressing to Colorado by the end of the week. However, there are
many inconsistencies between ensemble runs and differences between
models in terms of the track and timing of the system. Increased
southwest flow aloft ahead of the approaching system should bring
showers across the region as early as Wednesday night in the high
country. Additionally, there is agreement with ensemble guidance
that a low pressure will form off the Rockies with a cold front
bringing in colder temperatures and more widespread precipitation.
With the uncertainty of the timing of this system, there is a large
spread of high temperatures for Thursday and Friday, although NBM is
trending towards the warmer end of guidance. Most likely will change
high temperatures as models get a better grasp on the evolution of
this trough.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS through 12Z Tuesday/...
Issued at 540 AM MDT Mon Apr 14 2025

Last of the snow is pushing through DEN with snow ending by 12Z. Low
clouds to linger a few more hours before very dry air sitting to the
north moves in and brings clear skies later this morning. Expect
the lower clouds (500 to 1500 feet) to lift 13-14Z and the
3000-5000 foot layer of clouds to scatter around 17Z. Clear skies
then prevail this afternoon and tonight.

As far as winds go, east winds turn southeasterly ~15Z and then
become light. After a period of light and variable winds, the wind
direction slowly turns back to the northeast 20-21Z at speeds less
than 15 knots. Winds then return to the south to southeast after 00Z
Tuesday.

&&

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

&&

$$

UPDATE...Bonner
SHORT TERM...Meier
LONG TERM...Ideker
AVIATION...Meier