National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Areas of Dangerous Heat and Severe Thunderstorms

Dangerous heat will persist across the Southwest U.S. through Friday with daytime highs of 110-115°F. Heat across the southern Plains will briefly ease to near-normal by late week before returning over much of the Plains into next week. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across parts of the Northeast U.S. on Thursday. Damaging wind, hail, and a tornado or two are possible. Read More >

COZ205-271100-
COZ205-271100-
Colorado River Headwaters-
1258 PM MDT Wed Aug 26 2026

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1258 PM MDT Wed Aug 26 2026

.DISCUSSION...

Terrain based thunderstorms will continue each afternoon for 
eastern UT and western CO. Some showers could produce flash 
flooding in sensitive areas. Critical fire weather conditions are 
not expected. Continued lightning activity could add to the risk 
of new starts in susceptible fuels. Stronger winds on Friday and 
Saturday produce localized critical fire conditions, but increased
moisture on Saturday and beyond will suppress fire weather into 
next 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.........Partly cloudy (40-50%). Isolated showers and 
                    thunderstorms until 2400. 
Chc of lightning....10 percent. 
Min temperature.....51-61 F. 
Max humidity........51-61%. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley 4 to 8 mph becoming 
                    downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph by sunset.
CWR.................10 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....Northwest 10 to 15 mph increasing to west 15 to 
                    20 mph after midnight. 
Mixing Height.......9000 ft AGL until 1900. 500 ft AGL after 2000. 
Transport Winds.....Northwest 5 mph until 2400, then southeast. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor. 

.THURSDAY...
Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny (20-30%) until 1200, then partly 
                    cloudy (40-50%). Isolated showers. Isolated 
                    thunderstorms after 1200. 
Chc of lightning....20 percent. 
Max temperature.....77-87 F. 
Min humidity........14-24%. 
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph becoming 
                    upslope/upvalley 4 to 8 mph by 1100.
CWR.................10 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....Northwest 15 to 20 mph becoming west 10 to 15 
                    mph in the afternoon. 
Mixing Height.......1500 ft AGL until 1000, then 11000 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....West 5 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Good after 1200. 

.THURSDAY NIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (40-50%). Isolated showers and 
                    thunderstorms until 2400. 
Chc of lightning....10 percent. 
Min temperature.....51-61 F. 
Max humidity........52-62%. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley 4 to 8 mph becoming 
                    downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph by sunset.
CWR.................10 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph 
                    after midnight. 
Mixing Height.......8500 ft AGL until 1900. 500 ft AGL after 2000. 
Transport Winds.....West 5 mph until 2400, then south. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor. 

.FRIDAY...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (40-50%). Isolated showers and 
                    thunderstorms after 1200. 
Chc of lightning....20 percent. 
Max temperature.....78-88 F. 
Min humidity........15-25%. 
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph becoming 
                    upslope/upvalley 4 to 8 mph by 1100.
CWR.................10 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph in 
                    the afternoon. 
Mixing Height.......2500 ft AGL until 1000. 10500 ft AGL after 
                    1200. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 5 mph until 1200, then west 10 to 15 
                    mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Very good after 1200. 

.FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7...
.SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 50-60. Highs 74-84. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts
to  35 mph. 
.SUNDAY...Numerous showers and thunderstorms. Lows 47-57. Highs
66-76. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 44-54. Highs 67-77. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 44-54. Highs 68-78. 
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 44-54. Highs 68-78.