White River Forecast Area (COZ202) - Fire Weather Forecast

COZ202-161115-
COZ202-161115-
White River Forecast Area-
104 PM MDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
104 PM MDT Wed Apr 15 2026

.DISCUSSION...Warmer and drier conditions return today and 
tomorrow, with gusty winds increasing across the region tomorrow.
This will lead to localized critical fire weather conditions for 
the lower elevations. Friday into the weekend, a low pressure
system moves through bringing cooler temperatures and increased 
shower activity.


...GUSTY ERRATIC WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR ANY SHOWERS
OR THUNDERSTORMS...
...THE SMOKE DATA IS CALCULATED FROM AN AVERAGE AT 6000 FEET MSL...


.TONIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (40-50%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Min temperature.....34-44 F. 
Max humidity........43-53%. 
Snow Level..........Near 8200 ft. 
20-foot winds.......Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 
                    mph. 
CWR.................0 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 25 to 35 mph increasing to southwest 30 to 
                    40 mph after midnight. 
Mixing Height.......8500 ft AGL until 2000, then 1000 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 15 to 20 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Very good until 2100, then poor. 

.THURSDAY...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (40-50%). Scattered showers after 
                    1200. 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Max temperature.....54-64 F near 6000 feet 
                    47-57 F near 8000 feet. 
Min humidity........11-21%. 
Snow Level..........Near 7800 ft. 
20-foot winds.......South winds 15 to 20 mph increasing to 
                    southwest 20 to 30 mph in the afternoon. 
                    Localized gusts up to 50 mph. 
CWR.................10 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....Southwest 35 to 45 mph. 
Mixing Height.......1500 ft AGL until 0900. 12000 ft AGL after 
                    1000. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 20 to 25 mph until 1200, then 35 to 
                    45 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900, then excellent. 

.THURSDAY NIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy (70-80%). Scattered showers until 
                    2400. Numerous snow showers after 2400. 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Min temperature.....17-27 F. 
Max humidity........76-91% near 6000 feet 
                    70-85% near 8000 feet. 
Snow Level..........Near 5600 ft. 
20-foot winds.......West winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph in 
                    the evening becoming downslope/downvalley 3 to 
                    6 mph by sunset. 
CWR.................40 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....Southwest 40 to 50 mph decreasing to 30 to 40 
                    mph after midnight. 
Mixing Height.......9500 ft AGL until 2000. 3500 ft AGL after 2100. 
Transport Winds.....Northwest 20 to 30 mph until 2400, then 
                    northeast 15 to 20 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Excellent until 2100, then poor until 2400, 
                    then fair. 

.FRIDAY...
Sky/weather.........Near 6000 feet, mostly cloudy (70-80%) until 
                    1200, then partly cloudy (50-60%). Near 8000 
                    feet, mostly cloudy (60-70%). Numerous snow 
                    showers until 1200. Scattered snow showers and 
                    isolated thunderstorms after 1200. 
Chc of lightning....20 percent. 
Max temperature.....32-42 F near 6000 feet 
                    24-34 F near 8000 feet. 
Min humidity........32-42%. 
Snow Level..........Near 3800 ft. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley winds 4 to 8 mph. Localized 
                    gusts up to 20 mph in the afternoon. 
CWR.................40 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 15 to 20 mph shifting to the northwest 20 
                    to 25 mph in the afternoon. 
Mixing Height.......9500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....North 10 to 15 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900, then good. 

.FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7...
.SATURDAY...Warmer. Mostly clear. Lows 16-26. Highs 46-56. Winds
less than 15 mph. 
.SUNDAY...Warmer. Mostly clear. Lows 21-31. Highs 60-70. Winds
less than 15 mph. 
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms near
8000 feet. Lows 32-42. Highs 66-76. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph
with gusts to  25 mph. 
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms near
8000 feet. Lows 36-46. Highs 69-79. 
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 37-47. Highs 63-73.