Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
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881 FXUS65 KBOU 300538 AFDBOU Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 1138 PM MDT Sat Jun 29 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Warmer Sunday with scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms, a few strong to severe. - Continued heat across the region. - Downward trend in showers and storms beyond Tuesday. && .UPDATE... Issued at 717 PM MDT Sat Jun 29 2024 Rapid heating late afternoon today under mostly clear skies (Denver reached an impressive 87F!) allowed for the robust cap to erode just in time for a few thunderstorms to develop over the Denver metro. For the rest of the evening, most of the area should just see isolated to scattered showers from dissipating convection, with a few rumbles of thunder in spots, most likely in the mountains. Stronger southeast surface winds this evening may also enhance the upslope component over El Paso County and the Palmer Divide, and sustain some late evening showers and thunderstorms into Elbert and Lincoln Counties. Other than minor adjustments to near-term PoPs and temperatures, few changes were made to the forecast this evening. && .SHORT TERM /Through Sunday/... Issued at 216 PM MDT Sat Jun 29 2024 Satellite shows a clear picture on where the instability has developed this afternoon (although marginal in magnitude). Cumulus is in good coverage across the high country. A couple of convective showers have already initiated mainly, across the northern high country. Showers and storms are expected to continue to develop across the high country this afternoon, extending eastward to the Foothills and adjacent plains. ACARS soundings around Denver show a defined capping inversion this afternoon, an indicator that it is quite stable out there. Although temperatures are slowly warming with less cloud cover this afternoon, it will be a hard cap to break (4-6deg). This would act limit shower/storm development and won`t maintain most showers/storms that make their way off the terrain for long. More south of I-70 (south Den. Metro, foothills, South Park, Palmer Divide) will have higher chances. High-res CAMs show potential for showers and storms to move eastward off the high terrain toward early evening with greater chances for the Palmer Divide and south metro. If it does warm another several degrees, can`t rule out a strong storm or two. Later tonight shower/storms move east across southern Lincoln County with potential for localized heavier rainfall shown by HREF mean QPF/PMM. Sunday, will be warmer and a bit more unstable. The thermal ridge nudges eastward warming mid-level temperatures and with lesser low clouds will likely bring the return to 90s for the plains. West urban corridor may be just under 90s. This will depend on how much mid-level clouds stick around. MLCAPE 500-1200 J/kg and sufficient moisture and 0-6km bulk shear will support scattered showers and storms in the afternoon/early eve with a couple strong to severe storms. && .LONG TERM /Sunday night through Saturday/... Issued at 216 PM MDT Sat Jun 29 2024 Monday - Tuesday...Mid-level ridge axis begins to shift towards the east with weaker troughing trying to carve into the top of said ridging. Lingering moisture could produce some isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms over the high terrain and drift off towards the east...fairly typical pattern. Temperature-wise, we look to be at or slightly above early July averages, though Tuesday could trend cooler with the trough passage. Wednesday - Saturday...Ridging builds back in across the west by the middle part of the week sending temperatures back above average. Not really a lot of moisture around so rain chances are lower, 15-20%, but also very isolated. As mentioned by the previous shift, do we get backdoor cold fronted late in the week for a cool off and some scattered showers around the holiday or do we stay hot and dry? Still lots to watch it play out. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS through 06Z Monday/... Issued at 1134 PM MDT Sat Jun 29 2024 VFR through the TAF period. Still expecting stronger than normal drainage flow overnight tonight. Starting to see some gustier southerlies develop at APA with the wind shift line expected to reach DEN before 07z. Winds should weaken by late Sunday morning or early Sunday afternoon, and should attempt to turn to more of an easterly component. Guidance shows widely scattered convection again, but no clear timing signal for when storms would be most likely to affect the terminals. Opted for a long period of VCTS, turning to VCSH, until there`s more confidence on any sort of timing. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ UPDATE...Rodriguez SHORT TERM...Mensch LONG TERM...Heavener AVIATION...Hiris