Colorado River Headwaters (COZ205) - Fire Weather Forecast

Extreme Heat Across the Southern U.S.; Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain in the Plains and Mississippi Valley

A heat wave over the Southwest will intensify late week, peaking and expanding into the Intermountain West and northern High Plains this weekend. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected over portions of the Plains and Mississippi Valley tonight, which will shift to parts of the Upper Midwest and mid-Mississippi Valley Friday. Monsoonal showers and flooding persist in the Desert Southwest. Read More >

COZ205-010030- COZ205-010030- Colorado River Headwaters- 227 AM MDT Fri Jul 31 2026 Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 227 AM MDT Fri Jul 31 2026 .DISCUSSION... Hot and dry conditions will persist from now into early next week. Temperatures will trend in excess of 10 degrees over normal values. Wetting rains are not expected. Localized critical fire weather conditions will develop each afternoon into the middle of next week. A chance for the return of moisture and possible showers arrives mid week. ...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 sunny (10-20%) until 1200, then partly cloudy (30-40%). Chc of lightning....0 percent. Max temperature.....80-90 F. Min humidity........12-22%. 20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph becoming upslope/upvalley 4 to 8 mph by 1100. CWR.................0 percent. 15K Ft MSL Winds....Northwest 10 to 15 mph. Mixing Height.......1000 ft AGL until 0900. 12000 ft AGL after 1000. Transport Winds.....Northeast 5 mph until 1200, then northwest. Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Good after 1200. .TONIGHT... Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (30-40%). Chc of lightning....0 percent. Min temperature.....53-63 F. Max humidity........50-60%. 20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley winds 3 to 6 mph. Localized gusts up to 20 mph. CWR.................0 percent. 15K Ft MSL Winds....Northwest 10 to 15 mph. Mixing Height.......9500 ft AGL until 2000, then 500 ft AGL. Transport Winds.....North 5 to 10 mph until 2400, then east. Smoke dispersal.....Fair until 2100, then poor. .SATURDAY... Sky/weather.........Sunny (0-10%) until 1200, then partly cloudy (30-40%). Chc of lightning....0 percent. Max temperature.....82-92 F. Min humidity........9-14%. 20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph becoming upslope/upvalley 4 to 8 mph by 1100. CWR.................0 percent. 15K Ft MSL Winds....North 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Mixing Height.......2000 ft AGL until 1000, then 14000 ft AGL. Transport Winds.....Northeast 5 mph until 1200, then northwest. Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Very good after 1200. .FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7... .SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 50-60. Highs 84-94. Winds less than 15 mph. .MONDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 53-63. Highs 84-94. Winds less than 15 mph. .TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows 52-62. Highs 83-93. Winds less than 15 mph. .WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows 51-61. Highs 82-92. .THURSDAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows 51-61. Highs 82-92.