Lakewood, CO 80232 Weather

Key messages

- Mild and mostly dry to end the week.

- Unsettled weather returns late this weekend and early next week. Mountain snow is likely (>70% chance) above 8500ft during this time. High uncertainty remains for the foothills and plains.

.DISCUSSION /Through Thursday/: Issued at 1026 PM MDT Thu Oct 29 2026

For late tonight thru Fri morning main concern is how widespread dense fog may become along portions of the I-25 Corridor from Denver north to the Wyoming border and points eastward. HRRR has been consistent in showing fog developing over ern Larimer and Weld county by midnight and then spreading it southward into nrn portions of the Denver area by 3 am or 4 am. This fog would then linger thru the mid morning hours on Fri before lifting. In addition, soundings show some potential for drizzle as well.

Meanwhile, for the rest of Fri, the flow aloft will be SW with only isold showers possible in the mtns and far nern plains in the aftn. As for highs, readings will be in the lower to mid 60's across the plains, however, lingering low clouds could keep temps in the 50's over the far nern plains.

For Sat, little change is expected as SW flow aloft remains over the area. There still appears to be a weak disturbance embedded in the flow which may bring a chc of showers to portions of the higher terrain with an isold shower threat across the plains. Temperatures will remain in the upper 50's to mid 60's over nern CO.

Looking ahead to Sun and Sun night, there continues to be some uncertainty as to how an upper level trough along the West Coast evolves. The ECMWF and GFS now have a disorganized elongated upper level trough moving into the nrn Rockies and Great Basin by Sun night. Ahead of this feature, there will be quite a bit of subtropical moisture affecting the higher terrain, especially by Sun night. As a result, should see an increasing chc of showers over the higher terrain with snow levels dropping below 10000 ft late Sun night. Across the plains, it looks dry and windy thru Sun aftn as sfc low pres intensifies from ern WY into ern CO. By Sun night, latest data shows varying precip chances across the plains. For now, have kept in a chc of showers as a band of mid level QG ascent moves across overnight.

On Mon, the ECMWF and GFS have two main areas of energy associated with the elongated upper level trough. One piece stays over the nrn Rockies while a 2nd piece of energy moves across srn CO/nrn NM. If this occurs best chc of decent precip would stay mainly to the north and south of the area. Meanwhile, both models shows a stg cold front moving across the plains with gusty north winds behind it.

For Mon night into Tue, the ECMWF and GFS keep the two pieces of energy separated as the one piece over the nrn Rockies moves SSE across Colorado while the other piece of energy moves from nern NM into central Oklahoma. In addition, the GFS intensifies the upper level low as it moves into Oklahoma by late Mon night. The ECMWF has very little additional precip Mon night into Tue as much drier air spreads across the area. Meanwhile, the GFS has a band of precip over the ern plains Mon night but also decreases the chc of precip over the area on Tue. Winds will remain gusty over the plains Mon night into early Tue as well.

By Wed an upper level ridge will build over the area ahead of another possible system moving across on Thu. For now, Wed looks dry and warmer ahead of the next system.

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday/: Issued at 1126 AM MDT Fri Oct 30 2026

Fog has moved out of the TAF sites, leaving VFR conditions through this evening. Winds will be light from the east/northeast this afternoon, becoming light and variable this evening, and turning towards drainage overnight. Models have another circulation forming to the north and east of DEN, turning winds northerly or variable at the TAF sites around 12Z. Fog is forecast to develop again in the early morning, approaching BJC and DEN around 10Z or 11Z, potentially moving over the airports between 12Z and 16Z. We have a tempo for LIFR conditions during that time window at DEN and BJC. Fog will start to clear between 16Z and 18Z. Once again, fog is expected to stay just to the north of APA.

Watches, warnings and advisories

None.