National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Thunderstorms for mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valley; Record Warmth and Fire Weather Concerns

Severe thunderstorms are expected later this afternoon and evening across the mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valley's. Large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes are all possible. Meanwhile, record warmth across the southern tier of the country continues; This will enhance fire weather conditions for the Plains. The cold front will head south on Friday with cooler temperatures east of the Rockies. Read More >

COZ205-270930-
COZ205-270930-
Colorado River Headwaters-
1117 AM MDT Thu Mar 26 2026

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1117 AM MDT Thu Mar 26 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR COLORADO
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 200 BELOW 8000 FEET AND 202 BELOW 8000 FEET... 

.DISCUSSION...

Elevated fire weather conditions are in place across the majority
of the region Thursday as one final day of near-record high 
temperatures is anticipated. Strongest wind gusts of 25-40 mph are
most likely north of I-70 where most of the region's critical 
fuels are. Calmer winds and cooler temperatures decrease fire 
weather potential on Friday before gusty winds return this 
weekend.

...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%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Min temperature.....32-42 F. 
Max humidity........41-51%. 
20-foot winds.......Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 35 
                    mph in the evening becoming 
                    downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph by sunset. 
CWR.................0 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 20 to 30 mph. 
Mixing Height.......9500 ft AGL until 1900. 2000 ft AGL after 2000. 
Transport Winds.....Northwest 10 to 15 mph until 2400, then 
                    northeast 5 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Good until 2100, then poor. 

.FRIDAY...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (30-40%) until 1200, then mostly 
                    sunny (20-30%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Max temperature.....58-68 F. 
Min humidity........11-16%. 
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....West 20 to 30 mph. 
Mixing Height.......9500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....East 5 mph until 1200, then west 10 to 15 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 1200. Very good after 1500. 

.FRIDAY NIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (30-40%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Min temperature.....36-46 F. 
Max humidity........47-57%. 
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley winds 3 to 6 mph. 
                    Localized gusts up to 30 mph in the evening. 
CWR.................0 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 25 to 35 mph. 
Mixing Height.......8000 ft AGL until 1900, then 2500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 5 to 10 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Fair until 2100, then poor. 

.SATURDAY...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (30-40%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Max temperature.....60-70 F. 
Min humidity........14-24%. 
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley winds 4 to 8 mph becoming 
                    west 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 35 mph in the 
                    afternoon. 
CWR.................0 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 25 to 35 mph. 
Mixing Height.......10000 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 10 to 15 mph until 1200, then west 20 
                    to 25 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Excellent after 1200. 

.FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7...
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 35-45. Highs 60-70. West winds
10 to 20 mph with gusts to  35 mph. 
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms. Lows 36-46. Highs 56-66. Southwest winds 10 to
20 mph with gusts to  30 mph. 
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Scattered showers. Lows 34-44. Highs
51-61. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to  40 mph. 
.WEDNESDAY...Numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms. Lows
31-41. Highs 43-53. 
.THURSDAY...Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers. Lows 26-36. Highs
45-55.