
Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible across portions of the northern High Plains Wednesday 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 Wednesday. Read More >
COZ205-131045-
COZ205-131045-
Colorado River Headwaters-
1244 PM MDT Tue May 12 2026
Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1244 PM MDT Tue May 12 2026
...RED FLAG WARNING 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... Localized critical fire weather conditions are
possible each day through the week. Tomorrow an increase in
afternoon wind gusts and persisting single digit and low teens
relative humidity values will cause more widespread critical fire
weather conditions. Red Flag Warnings are in effect tomorrow for
CO Fire Weather Zones 200, 202, 290, and 292 where the fuels are
deemed critical. There is a small chance of isolated dry
thunderstorms over high terrain areas tomorrow.
...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 (30-40%) until 2400, then clear
(0-10%).
Chc of lightning....0 percent.
Min temperature.....45-55 F.
Max humidity........38-48%.
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.......11000 ft AGL until 2000, then 500 ft AGL.
Transport Winds.....West 5 to 10 mph until 2400, then southeast.
Smoke dispersal.....Good until 2100, then poor.
.WEDNESDAY...
Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny (10-20%) until 1200, then partly
cloudy (50-60%).
Chc of lightning....0 percent.
Max temperature.....78-88 F.
Min humidity........8-13%.
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 15 to 20 mph increasing to southwest 20 to
25 mph in the afternoon.
Mixing Height.......1000 ft AGL until 0900. 13500 ft AGL after
1000.
Transport Winds.....South 5 to 10 mph until 1200, then southwest 15
to 20 mph.
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Excellent after 1200.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Mostly cloudy (60-70%) until 2400, then partly
cloudy (50-60%). Isolated showers.
Chc of lightning....0 percent.
Min temperature.....43-53 F.
Max humidity........54-64%.
20-foot winds.......Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 35
mph in the evening becoming
downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph by sunset.
CWR.................10 percent.
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 25 to 35 mph.
Mixing Height.......8000 ft AGL until 2000, then 1000 ft AGL.
Transport Winds.....Southwest 5 to 10 mph.
Smoke dispersal.....Good until 2100, then poor.
.THURSDAY...
Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny (10-20%). Isolated showers and
thunderstorms after 1200.
Chc of lightning....0 percent.
Max temperature.....70-80 F.
Min humidity........9-14%.
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley winds 4 to 8 mph becoming
west 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Localized
gusts up to 35 mph.
CWR.................0 percent.
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 25 to 35 mph decreasing to 20 to 30 mph in
the afternoon.
Mixing Height.......1000 ft AGL until 0800. 12000 ft AGL after
0900.
Transport Winds.....West 10 to 15 mph.
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Excellent after 1200.
.FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7...
.FRIDAY...Clear. Lows 35-45. Highs 70-80. West winds 10 to 20 mph
with gusts to 35 mph.
.SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers. Lows 38-48. Highs
70-80. West winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 40 mph.
.SUNDAY...Breezy. Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and
thunderstorms. Lows 39-49. Highs 64-74. Southwest winds 15 to
25 mph with gusts to 45 mph.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 33-43. Highs 57-67.
.TUESDAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows
31-41. Highs 63-73.