National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain in the Mississippi Valley; Critical Fire Weather in the Southern Plains

Severe thunderstorms will persist tonight across the Middle Mississippi Valley, producing damaging winds, large to very large hail and several tornadoes. Low humidity and windy conditions will continue to produce elevated to critical fire weather conditions across the southern High Plains into midweek. Read More >

COZ205-281215-
COZ205-281215-
Colorado River Headwaters-
206 PM MDT Mon Apr 27 2026

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
206 PM MDT Mon Apr 27 2026

.DISCUSSION...Valley rain and mountain snow showers are expected 
through tomorrow evening. Critical fire weather conditions stay 
out of the forecast through the week due to high enough relative 
humidity values, or weaker afternoon wind gusts some days. Wetting
rains may return to later this week.

...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.........Mostly cloudy (70-80%). Scattered showers and 
                    isolated thunderstorms. 
Chc of lightning....20 percent. 
Min temperature.....24-34 F. 
Max humidity........79-94%. 
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley winds 3 to 6 mph. 
                    Localized gusts up to 30 mph in the evening. 
CWR.................50 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....Southwest 25 to 35 mph. 
Mixing Height.......5000 ft AGL until 2000, then 2000 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 5 to 10 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor. 

.TUESDAY...
Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy (70-80%) until 1200, then partly 
                    cloudy (40-50%). Numerous snow showers and 
                    isolated thunderstorms until 1200, then 
                    scattered showers and thunderstorms. 
Chc of lightning....50 percent. 
Max temperature.....42-52 F. 
Min humidity........34-44%. 
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley winds 4 to 8 mph becoming 
                    west 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Localized 
                    gusts up to 30 mph. 
CWR.................40 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 25 to 35 mph decreasing to 20 to 30 mph in 
                    the afternoon. 
Mixing Height.......3000 ft AGL until 0900, then 8000 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....West 10 to 15 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Very good after 1200. 

.TUESDAY NIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (30-40%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Min temperature.....25-35 F. 
Max humidity........65-80%. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley 4 to 8 mph becoming 
                    downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph by sunset.
CWR.................0 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 20 to 30 mph increasing to 25 to 35 mph 
                    after midnight. 
Mixing Height.......6500 ft AGL until 2000, then 2500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....West 5 to 10 mph until 2400, then south. 
Smoke dispersal.....Fair until 2100, then poor. 

.WEDNESDAY...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (50-60%). Scattered snow showers 
                    until 1200, then scattered showers and isolated 
                    thunderstorms. 
Chc of lightning....20 percent. 
Max temperature.....48-58 F. 
Min humidity........21-31%. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley winds 4 to 8 mph. Localized 
                    gusts up to 20 mph in the afternoon. 
CWR.................10 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 20 to 30 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph in 
                    the afternoon. 
Mixing Height.......2500 ft AGL until 0800, then 9500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....West 5 to 10 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Very good after 1200. 

.FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7...
.THURSDAY...Mostly cloudy. Numerous showers and scattered
thunderstorms. Lows 27-37. Highs 47-57. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.FRIDAY...Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms. Lows 26-36. Highs 46-56. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 24-34. Highs 53-63. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows
29-39. Highs 57-67. 
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms. Lows 31-41. Highs 55-65.