National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Critical Fire Weather Conditions and Severe Thunderstorms Today

Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible across portions of the northern High Plains this afternoon and evening. Severe wind gusts are the primary hazard. Gusty winds and low relative humidity will contribute to critical fire weather conditions across parts of the northern Great Plains and Great Basin today and the southern High Plains on Thursday. Read More >

COZ205-141130-
COZ205-141130-
Colorado River Headwaters-
119 PM MDT Wed May 13 2026

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
119 PM MDT Wed May 13 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR COLORADO
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 200, 202, 290 AND 292... 
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON UNTIL 8 PM MDT THURSDAY
FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR COLORADO FIRE
WEATHER ZONE 293... 

.DISCUSSION...Localized critical fire weather conditions are 
possible each day through Sunday, while widespread critical fire 
weather conditions are expected this afternoon and again Saturday 
afternoon due to stronger wind gusts on these days. While today's 
focus is predominately for hot, dry, and windy conditions, dry 
lightning is also a concern over the San Juans. A pattern change 
looks likely late Sunday and beyond, marking the return of more 
seasonable conditions. 


...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%) until 2400, then partly 
                    cloudy (50-60%). Isolated thunderstorms until 
                    2400. Isolated showers. 
Chc of lightning....20 percent. 
Min temperature.....42-52 F. 
Max humidity........56-66%. 
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley winds 3 to 6 mph. 
                    Localized gusts up to 30 mph decreasing to 20 
                    mph after midnight. 
CWR.................10 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....Southwest 25 to 35 mph increasing to west 30 to 
                    40 mph after midnight. 
Mixing Height.......9500 ft AGL until 2000, then 1000 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 5 to 10 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Very good until 2100, then poor. 

.THURSDAY...
Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny (10-20%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Max temperature.....68-78 F. 
Min humidity........12-17%. 
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.................0 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 25 to 35 mph decreasing to 20 to 25 mph in 
                    the afternoon. 
Mixing Height.......500 ft AGL until 0800. 11500 ft AGL after 0900. 
Transport Winds.....West 10 to 15 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Excellent after 1200. 

.THURSDAY NIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Mostly clear (10-20%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Min temperature.....35-45 F. 
Max humidity........36-46%. 
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 25 mph increasing to 20 to 30 mph 
                    after midnight. 
Mixing Height.......9500 ft AGL until 2000, then 1000 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....West 5 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Good until 2100, then poor. 

.FRIDAY...
Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny (10-20%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Max temperature.....69-79 F. 
Min humidity........8-13%. 
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley winds 4 to 8 mph becoming 
                    west 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph in the 
                    afternoon. 
CWR.................0 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 20 to 30 mph. 
Mixing Height.......500 ft AGL until 0800. 13500 ft AGL after 0900. 
Transport Winds.....West 5 to 10 mph until 1200, then 15 to 20 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Excellent after 1200. 

.FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7...
.SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 36-46. Highs 67-77. West winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 
35 mph. 
.SUNDAY...Breezy. Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and
thunderstorms. Lows 36-46. Highs 58-68. Southwest winds 15 to
25 mph with gusts to  40 mph. 
.MONDAY...Cooler. Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and
thunderstorms. Lows 30-40. Highs 44-54. West winds 10 to 20 mph
with gusts to  45 mph. 
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms. Lows 24-34. Highs 50-60. 
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers. Lows 25-35. Highs
59-69.