071
FXUS65 KBOU 222343
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
443 PM MST Sat Feb 22 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Gusty winds up to 50 mph will develop tonight over the higher
  east slopes of the Front Range.

- Above normal temperatures expected through next week.

- 50+ mph wind gusts expected across the Front Range and foothills
  Monday and Wednesday.
 &&

.SHORT TERM /Through Sunday/...
Issued at 202 PM MST Sat Feb 22 2025

A weak shortwave will bring an area of high clouds over Colorado
tonight. Winds will increase over the mountains, with a brief
period of wave amplification possible late tonight into early
Sunday morning. Given the marginal flow, we expect peak winds in
the 50-60 mph range in exposed higher areas, but 35-50 mph gusts
to be more common in the higher east slopes areas, with some of
that wind trickling down to the base of the foothills but at
lighter speeds. The clouds should diminish Sunday morning, though
remaining wave clouds are likely. With some enhancement to the
southwesterly winds behind the shortwave, conditions should be
pretty good to maximize heating. We nudged temperature up a
little, with highs around 60. Breezy areas near the foothills
could be a little warmer still.

&&

.LONG TERM /Sunday night through Saturday/...
Issued at 202 PM MST Sat Feb 22 2025

The extended period looks to remain warm and generally dry as
broad ridging persists across the Western US through next weekend.

There may be a few snow showers on Sunday night as a little
moisture embedded in the west-northwesterly flow arrives, which
will linger into the first part of Monday. The continued downslope
across the lower elevations will lead to even warmer temperatures
than this weekend, with guidance in good agreement with low to mid
60s across most of the plains.

Tuesday should be warm, but windy across most of the forecast area
as a dry trough approaches. Widespread 30 to 40 mph gusts look
likely in the afternoon, with a few higher gusts across the
typical higher elevations of the Front Range mountains. Some
scattered orographic snow showers will be possible over the high
country, but any accumulation looks to be light.

A cold front is expected to pass through sometime late Tuesday,
leading to a brief cooldown for Wednesday. Temperatures should
still end up fairly close to normal (upper 40s/low 50s). Ridging
looks to quickly build back for the latter half of the week into
next weekend, with a return to above normal temperatures across
the forecast area.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS through 00Z Monday/...
Issued at 443 PM MST Sat Feb 22 2025

VFR to prevail through Sunday with high clouds over the area at
times. Winds to be mainly a southwest direction through tonight and
Sunday morning. Though there`s a 20-30% chance for a weak turn to
the northwest in the next few hours if a cyclone to the north of
Denver tightens and shifts eastward. Winds for Sunday start off out
of the southwest and are then expected to turn westerly and increase
a little after 20Z.

&&

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Gimmestad
LONG TERM...Hiris
AVIATION...Meier