National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Thunderstorms in the Southeast; Critical Fire Weather in the Northern Plains

Isolated severe storms with locally damaging wind gusts and hail are possible from the coastal Carolinas into the Florida Peninsula, and along the central Gulf Coast. Heavy rain may cause localized areas of flash flooding in the Gulf Coast. Gusty winds and dry conditions may produce elevated to critical fire weather across the northern/central Plains. Record heat is expected in the West. Read More >

COZ205-121200-
COZ205-121200-
Colorado River Headwaters-
154 PM MDT Mon May 11 2026

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
154 PM MDT Mon May 11 2026

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR
COLORADO FIRE WEATHER ZONES 200, 202, 290 AND 292... 

.DISCUSSION...Hot, dry, and windy conditions will persist for the
next several days, with localized critical fire weather 
conditions possible each day. Winds will pick up on Wednesday, 
with gusts to around 35 mph possible, along with single digit to 
low teens relative humidities. A Fire Weather Watch is in effect 
for CO Fire Weather Zones 200, 202, 290, and 292 where the 
coverage of critical fire weather conditions is widespread and 
fuels are deemed critical. Additionally, there is a 10 percent 
chance for dry thunderstorms across southwest Colorado on 
Wednesday afternoon.


...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 clear (10-20%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Min temperature.....38-48 F. 
Max humidity........31-41%. 
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....Northwest 20 to 25 mph. 
Mixing Height.......11500 ft AGL until 1900. 500 ft AGL after 2000. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 5 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Good until 2100, then poor. 

.TUESDAY...
Sky/weather.........Sunny (0-10%) until 1200, then partly cloudy 
                    (30-40%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Max temperature.....76-86 F. 
Min humidity........9-14%. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley winds 4 to 8 mph. Localized 
                    gusts up to 25 mph. 
CWR.................0 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....Northwest 20 to 25 mph becoming west 15 to 20 
                    mph in the afternoon. 
Mixing Height.......1000 ft AGL until 0900. 13500 ft AGL after 
                    1000. 
Transport Winds.....West 5 to 10 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Excellent after 1200. 

.TUESDAY NIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (30-40%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Min temperature.....45-55 F. 
Max humidity........41-51%. 
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 10 to 15 mph. 
Mixing Height.......11500 ft AGL until 1900. 1000 ft AGL after 
                    2000. 
Transport Winds.....Northwest 5 to 10 mph until 2400, then 
                    southeast. 
Smoke dispersal.....Fair until 2100, then poor. 

.WEDNESDAY...
Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny (20-30%) until 1200, then partly 
                    cloudy (40-50%). Isolated showers and 
                    thunderstorms after 1200. 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Max temperature.....78-88 F. 
Min humidity........9-14%. 
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley winds 4 to 8 mph becoming 
                    southwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 35 mph in 
                    the afternoon. 
CWR.................0 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 10 to 15 mph increasing to southwest 20 to 
                    25 mph in the afternoon. 
Mixing Height.......1000 ft AGL until 0900. 12500 ft AGL after 
                    1100. 
Transport Winds.....South 5 to 10 mph until 1200, then southwest 15 
                    to 20 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Excellent after 1200. 

.FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7...
.THURSDAY...Not as warm. Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and
thunderstorms. Lows 42-52. Highs 67-77. West winds 10 to 20 mph
with gusts to  40 mph. 
.FRIDAY...Clear. Lows 34-44. Highs 69-79. West winds 10 to 20 mph
with gusts to  40 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 36-46. Highs 70-80. West winds
10 to 20 mph with gusts to  45 mph. 
.SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows
37-47. Highs 66-76. 
.MONDAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows
34-44. Highs 65-75.