Forecast for Labor Day weekend: few more active days, then drying out

08/28/25 8:40am: I can't believe its almost Labor Day weekend. Lets take a look at what we can expect weather-wise from the holiday weekend and beyond into next week. We have two more active weather days (today and Fri) before the atmosphere dries out and warms up starting on Sat (although still a few storms expected Sat afternoon).

Then basically a drier pattern from Sun through Fri next week...but eastern CO will be on the edge of colder air pushing in from the northeast, so cooler on the front-range at times, especially Tue and Wed of next week, but will remain mostly dry.

Some moisture returns by next Fri into Sat but its limited, but doesn't look particularly hot or anything. Looking a ways out deeper moisture and better rain chances may return around Sept 9th-11th, but that is uncertain.

Here are a few main points for the next 3-4 days.

Today will be fairly similar to yesterday, although less thunderstorm coverage overall but still some strong storms in spots.

On Fri models show a short-wave moving across the state from morning through afternoon and that will bring some weather and storms in spots

For Den/Bou and the front-range:

• Scattered thunderstorms this afternoon from 1pm-9pm, best coverage will be around the edges of Den/Bou, really near Ft. Collins / Greeley areas and also near the Palmer Divide and foothills, best chances after 3-7pm

• For tomorrow (Fri): cloudy in the morning with a slight chance for light rain showers in the foothills, then turning partly cloudy, then a chance for isolated to scattered storms from 1pm-6pm, best chances on Fri will be from the Palmer Divide south across the southern front-range

• For Sat turning warmer, slight chance for some isolated storms from 2pm-8pm again, but best coverage on Sat will likely be on the eastern plains (east of Denver) also over parts of southeast CO

• Mostly dry with seasonable temps on Sun

• Mostly dry on Mon but turning cooler in the afternoon (maybe more clouds)

  
  

For the north-central and south-central mountains

• For today: isolated to scattered thunderstorms from 12pm-8pm, best coverage along and north of I-70 today (northern mountains will be favored)

• On Fri models show a batch of rain associated with the short-wave moving across parts of western CO and the mountains in the morning 5am-12pm, then scattered storms in the afternoon: 1pm-6pm, in the afternoon the focus will be along/east of the Cont. Divide (front-range mountains)

• On Sat much drier conditions for most of the mountains, with very little storm chances. Best storm coverage on Sat will be well east of the Cont. Divide (isolated coverage for front-range mountains, after 2pm Sat but won't be much). Should be great to be outside on Sat and Sun

• Dry with seasonal temps on Sun

• It will remain dry and seasonably warm on Mon (cooler air east)

  
  

That is all for now. Looking forward to Labor Day weekend. Buffs game tomorrow, heading to Crestone on Sat, should be good!

I'll show some quick rain reports from yesterday soon.

First image loop shows forecast radar over the next 60 hours (6am this morning through 6pm Sat) from latest NAM-3km model. Second image shows the evolution of the pattern via moisture (700mb-300mb RH and winds: we look for the deep greens). Third image shows the cooler air over eastern CO next Tue at 12pm from latest GFS.