You’ve probably seen the meme about Colorado’s "twelve seasons." You know the one—where "False Spring" is immediately followed by "Third Winter." If you are looking at a boulder 14 day forecast right now, you’re basically looking at a work of fiction that slowly becomes a documentary.
One day you're sitting on the Pearl Street Mall in a t-shirt, and forty-eight hours later, the snow is so thick you can’t see the Flatirons. Honestly, that’s just life at 5,430 feet. As of mid-January 2026, we are trapped in a classic Front Range "roller coaster."
The High-Desert Drama: What to Expect Right Now
We just came off a stretch where temperatures were flirting with 60°F. It felt great. People were out on the trails, and the local bike shops were buzzing. But the atmosphere is shifting. A stagnant ridge out west is finally breaking down, which means the "boring" weather is over.
The current trend for the next two weeks shows a series of weak Canadian fronts sliding down the spine of the Rockies. These aren't necessarily "Snowpocalypse" events, but they are enough to drop our highs from the balmy 50s down into the 30s.
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It's a dry cold, mostly.
Relative humidity is bottoming out between 15% and 25%. That’s why your skin feels like parchment paper and your static electricity levels are high enough to power a small toaster.
Breaking Down the Next 14 Days
The first week is looking fairly unsettled. We have a cold front hitting tonight, January 15, which is going to kick up some serious dust. We’re talking gusts between 25 and 35 knots (roughly 30-40 mph). If you have patio furniture that isn't bolted down, it might end up in your neighbor’s yard by tomorrow morning.
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- Days 1-3: Expect a sharp drop. Highs will struggle to hit 40°F. There is a slim chance (about 20%) of some light "upslope" snow. In Boulder, "upslope" is the magic word. It happens when winds hit the mountains and are forced upward, cooling and dumping moisture right on the city.
- Days 4-7: A brief rebound. We’ll likely see the return of the "downslope" winds. These are warmer and drier, often pushing temperatures back into the 50s. It’s deceptive. Don't put the heavy parka in storage.
- The Second Week: Long-range models, specifically the ECMWF (the "Euro" model), are hinting at a more significant Arctic push toward the end of the month.
The Boulder Upslope: Why Your App Is Probably Wrong
Most generic weather apps use global models that don't understand the nuance of the Foothills. They see "Colorado" and guess. But Boulder is a microclimate.
Sometimes, Denver gets three inches of snow while Boulder gets ten. Why? Because the air gets crammed against the mountains. If the wind is coming from the northeast, Boulder gets hammered. If it’s coming from the northwest, we stay dry because the mountains "shadow" us.
Basically, if the wind isn't hitting the mountains head-on, the snow just stays in the high country.
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Survival Guide for the Next Two Weeks
If you’re visiting or you just moved here, the "layering" advice is cliché for a reason. You will literally use a puffer jacket, a light hoodie, and a t-shirt all in the same afternoon.
- Sunscreen is non-negotiable. Even when it's 30°F. The atmosphere is thinner here, and the sun reflects off the snow. You'll get a "goggle tan" faster than a beach tan.
- Hydrate or die. Okay, that’s dramatic. But the 14-day outlook is incredibly dry. Drink twice as much water as you think you need.
- Check the wind. In Boulder, the wind is often a bigger deal than the snow. High wind watches are common this time of year, especially near the mouth of Boulder Canyon.
Looking Ahead to February
January is usually one of our driest months, but it sets the stage for the spring dump. Historically, Boulder averages about 11 inches of snow in January. We’re currently tracking a bit below that, but a single "upslope" event in the back half of the 14-day window could change that total in six hours.
The National Weather Service is currently keeping an eye on a shortwave trough moving off the British Columbia coast. If that tracks further south, we could see our first real snow accumulation of the year by the 25th.
Keep your ice scraper in the car. Even if it’s 60°F when you go into work, it might be 25°F and icy when you come out. That’s just the tax we pay for living somewhere this beautiful.
Check your tire pressure tonight, as these 20-degree temperature swings will definitely trigger your "low air" light. Pack a dedicated winter kit in your trunk with a real blanket and some extra gloves—you don't want to be the person stuck on US-36 in a hoodie when the wind kicks up to 50 mph.