Dakota Ridge, Colorado 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

879
FXUS65 KBOU 132105
AFDBOU

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
205 PM MST Tue Jan 13 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Slight (< 20%) chance of light rain/snow across northeast
  Colorado tonight and early Wednesday.

- Elevated fire weather conditions possible (50% chance) across
  the plains Thursday and Friday.

- A cold front will bring windy conditions and colder
  temperatures to the area on Friday.

&&

.DISCUSSION /Through Tuesday/...
Issued at 205 PM MST Tue Jan 13 2026

The north-northwest flow aloft will persist through tonight
around an upper level high centered over northern California and
southern Oregon. Moisture aloft is being funneled around the high
and then traveling southward across Colorado. This will continue
to result in mostly cloudy skies through tonight. There is a weak
shortwave trough embedded in the north-northwest flow aloft and a
weak cold front that will drop south across eastern Colorado
tonight. A brief gusty wind shift to the northeast will be
possible when the front moves through. Clouds will also increase
with a few weak rain/snow showers. Precipitation amounts are
expected to be light and less than a tenth inch. The clouds linger
into the morning hours while precipitation is expected to have
wrapped up. Temperatures will be cooler Wednesday, but remain
above normal with highs in the 50s across northeast Colorado.

North-northwest flow aloft continues Thursday and Friday,
strengthening Friday with the passage of a shortwave trough. Winds
increase over the eastern plains, especially Friday behind the
cold front. Winds could approach high wind criteria over the far
northeast plains late Thursday night and Friday. Other concern
will be elevated/critical fire weather conditions associated with
the windy conditions. Temperatures rebound some on Thursday ahead
of the cold front with high temperatures reaching the upper 50s to
lower 60s across northeast Colorado. On Friday, temperatures fall
to near normal with highs in the 40s. The airmass remains dry
with no chance for precipitation Thursday and Friday.

The north to northwest flow aloft will continue through the weekend
and into early next week. Models show two shortwave troughs and cold
fronts grazing eastern Colorado. One on Saturday and the second one
Monday or Tuesday. The pattern still looks dry with ridging to the
west cutting off Pacific moisture. Temperatures will be challenging
to forecast. Arctic air will be just east of the area, and a slight
model adjustment westward would bring colder air to into eastern
Colorado at times behind the cold fronts. The warm days (Sunday and
maybe Tuesday) highs are expected to reach the 50s over northeast
Colorado. Highs on the cooler/colder days may only reach the 40s and
possibly only 30s over the plains.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday/...
Issued at 1052 AM MST Tue Jan 13 2026

Cloud cover has slowed warming and also slowed the wind
shift/turn to the northwest. We still expect to see northwest
winds 21Z to 22Z, possibly little gusty. Northerly winds are
expected to continue into the evening, after 00Z. A weak front
moves through after 03Z, bringing northeast winds, briefly gusty
as the front goes through. Clouds lower after 06Z and linger into
Wednesday morning. Ceilings are expected to fall to 3000-6000 feet
with about a 30 percent chance at lower ceilings. By 18Z
Wednesday, VFR conditions are expected with light and variable
winds.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...12
AVIATION...12