Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

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FXUS65 KBOU 151040
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
440 AM MDT Fri Mar 15 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Conditions will gradually improve this morning but it will take
  some time to dig out of this major winter storm.

- Cool this weekend with a chance for light snow mountains,
  foothills, and nearby plains.

- Warmer weather next week (Beginning Monday).

&&

.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 430 AM MDT Fri Mar 15 2024

Radar returns around the Denver area have been decreasing as the
flow aloft has become southeasterly. This trend will continue
through the rest of the morning with much of the lingering snow
diminishing by the afternoon. The highlights will be allowed to
expire at 6 AM this morning. Drier in the mid/upper levels and
under a deformation field will result in light winds and limited
mixing today. High temperatures will warm to around 40, which will
help melt the snow a little today. For tonight, low clouds and
fog may linger around the forecast area so we will keep the
mention of patchy coverage in the grids.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday)
Issued at 216 AM MDT Fri Mar 15 2024

Stagnant upper level pattern to prevail this weekend and through
the middle part of next week. A deep upper level trough will park
itself over eastern Canada and northeast U.S. through early next
week. This will keep the closed low that brought all the snow over
the Desert Southwest. A dry subsident airmass will be over the
area Saturday. The upper level low drifts slightly east over
Arizona this weekend and may shift far enough east to bring a
period of upslope Saturday night through Sunday night. Light snow
may return to parts of the mountains and foothills. Amounts at
this time look light, less than 3 inches. With a new deep snowpack
and weak flow aloft, expect temperatures to stay below normal
this weekend with highs in the 40s across the Denver area.

The closed low remains over the Desert Southwest early next week,
but will be much weaker. We begin to see warmer and drier move in
from the northwest and temperatures will be near normal with
highs in the 50s early next week. Over the northeast plains, it
should be warmer because of no snow on the ground. Highs here will
climb into the 60s.

On Wednesday, the weather pattern across North America becomes
unclogged with a progressive westerly flow aloft prevailing across
the Central Rockies. The remnants of the upper level low finally
is swept off to the east. Expect mild temperatures across the
area, with highs in the 60s across northeast Colorado. Foothills
likely holding on to some its snow will remain cooler. For the
mountains, the westerly flow aloft may bring a weak trough mid to
late next week with a chance for snow late Wednesday-Friday.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Friday night)
Issued at 430 AM MDT Fri Mar 15 2024

Snow will gradually decrease this morning allowing for a slow
improvement in the visibilities (MVFR) until 14z. IFR ceilings
however will continue until 14-16z, then MVFR category ceilings
will prevail until 02z then ceilings will be 050-060. Light
variable or south-southeast winds can be expected through the
period.

&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM MDT early this morning for
COZ033>037-039>041.

Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM MDT early this morning for
COZ038-043-045-046.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Cooper
LONG TERM...Meier
AVIATION...Cooper


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