National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Dangerous Fire Conditions in the Southern High Plains; Severe Weather in the Central Plains and Upper Midwest; Late-Season Mountain Snow

Dry and windy conditions will produce dangerous fire weather conditions across the southern High Plains into the Southwest. Severe storms, including very large hail, strong tornadoes, and winds, are expected in the central Plains into the Upper Midwest. Heavy late-season snow and record cold temperatures are expected in the northern to central Rockies. Heat is spreading across the eastern U.S.. Read More >

COZ205-172315-
COZ205-172315-
Colorado River Headwaters-
112 AM MDT Sun May 17 2026

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
112 AM MDT Sun May 17 2026

.DISCUSSION...Critical fire weather conditions will be replaced
by a wetter regime over the next few days as a stronger system
works through the Rockies. One concern will continue to be 
strong outflow winds from virga/showers and the threat of these
winds occurring with the threat of lightning and new fire starts.
Otherwise areas outside of the 4 Corners region have a high 
probability of wetting precipitation over the next few days.
Unfortunately in the 4 Corners region little precipitation is 
expected with this storm. 

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


.TODAY...
Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy (70-80%). Isolated thunderstorms 
                    until 1200. Numerous showers. Scattered 
                    thunderstorms after 1200. 
Chc of lightning....50 percent. 
Max temperature.....56-66 F. 
Min humidity........31-41%. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley winds 4 to 8 mph. Localized 
                    gusts up to 20 mph increasing to 30 mph in the 
                    afternoon. 
CWR.................60 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....Southwest 25 to 35 mph. 
Mixing Height.......1000 ft AGL until 0800, then 7500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 5 to 10 mph until 1200, then 15 to 20 
                    mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Very good after 1200. 

.TONIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy (70-80%). Numerous showers until 
                    2400. Isolated thunderstorms. Scattered showers 
                    after 2400. 
Chc of lightning....20 percent. 
Min temperature.....32-42 F. 
Max humidity........79-94%. 
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley winds 3 to 6 mph. 
                    Localized gusts up to 30 mph. 
CWR.................70 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....Southwest 35 to 45 mph. 
Mixing Height.......5500 ft AGL until 2000, then 1500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....South 5 to 10 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Fair until 2100, then poor. 

.MONDAY...
Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy (70-80%). Isolated thunderstorms 
                    until 1200. Showers. Scattered thunderstorms 
                    after 1200. 
Chc of lightning....50 percent. 
Max temperature.....46-56 F. 
Min humidity........44-54%. 
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley winds 4 to 8 mph becoming 
                    southwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. 
                    Localized gusts up to 30 mph. 
CWR.................80 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....South 25 to 35 mph becoming southwest 20 to 30 
                    mph in the afternoon. 
Mixing Height.......2000 ft AGL until 0800, then 6000 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 10 to 15 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Good after 1200. 

.FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7...
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms. Lows 24-34. Highs 48-58. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 25-35. Highs 54-64. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 28-38. Highs 57-67. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows
30-40. Highs 61-71. 
.SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 33-43. Highs 64-74.