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115 FXUS65 KBOU 211119 AFDBOU Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 419 AM MST Fri Feb 21 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Light snow will gradually end by mid morning over the I-70 mountain corridor, southern foothills and along the I-25 Corridor from Denver southward across the Palmer Divide. This will create hazardous travel conditions and affect the morning commute. - Mainly dry this afternoon with moderating temperatures across the plains. - Warming trend on the plains into the weekend and early next week. && .SHORT TERM /Through Tonight/... Issued at 239 AM MST Fri Feb 21 2025 Small, but potent upper level storm system, brought heavy snow to the foothills last evening and overnight. This feature was over east central CO early this morning and will gradually move eastward into wrn Kansas by midday. Lingering snow will continue thru 12z over the I-70 mtn corridor, srn foothills and along the I-25 Corridor, from Denver southward across the Palmer Divide. Snow should gradually diminish by mid morning as drier air advects in from the north. For this aftn, it will be dry in most areas, however, can`t rule out a few snow showers in the mtns due to lingering low level moisture. Highs this aftn will be warmer as readings rise into the mid 30s to lower 40s across nern CO. For tonight, dry NW flow aloft will be over the area. Overnight lows across the plains will begin to moderate back to more seasonal levels. && .LONG TERM /Saturday through Thursday/... Issued at 239 AM MST Fri Feb 21 2025 Significantly warmer and drier conditions are expected Saturday with slightly above normal temperatures as a ridge starts to build over the region. Weak westerly to southwesterly winds at the surface will allow downslope flow to warm up the plains, however snow packed areas, like the Palmer Divide, may struggle to reach the forecasted low 50s. The warming trend will continue into early next week with broad upper level bridging over the state. Sunday through Tuesday could see temperatures in the 60s each day due to downslope winds. A weak shortwave trough Sunday evening into Monday could bring light snow showers to the northern portions of the mountains. There is very little moisture associated with this system, so accumulations will be light. The high country could see 45+ mph wind gusts overnight Sunday into Monday, with the ridgetops seeing the strongest gusts. This will cause blowing snow from the foothills to the mountains. A stronger shortwave trough will track sometime midweek bringing another chance for orographic snow showers for the mountains. However, it will be too dry for the plains to see anything. A cold front will drop temperatures to the 50s for the plains and bring widespread gusty winds. The Front Range could see 45+ mph wind gusts and the plains could see 35+ mph gusts. Looking towards the end of the week, warmer temperatures reappear as there is an agreement in models that a ridge will build over the western United States. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS through 12Z Saturday/... Issued at 415 AM MST Fri Feb 21 2025 Light snow should gradually end by 14z or 15z this morning. Ceilings will mainly be MVFR but can`t rule out IFR at APA for an hour or so. Visibility will be IFR at times. Winds will be light and variable. After 15z ceilings will rise to around 5000 ft with no visibility issues. By 18z ceilings will sct out with VFR conditions this aftn and tonight. Winds will be mainly from the north this aftn and then gradually shift to drainage by early evening. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM MST this morning for COZ034- 037-039>041. Winter Storm Warning until 8 AM MST this morning for COZ036. && $$ SHORT TERM...RPK LONG TERM...Ideker AVIATION...RPK