National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Critical Fire Weather in the Southern Plains; Severe Storms in the Ohio Valley

Strong winds and low humidity will create elevated to critical fire weather conditions across the Southern Plains on Thursday. Strong to severe thunderstorms are forecast in the Ohio Valley late Thursday into Friday morning, with the strongest storms capable of producing very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes. Read More >

COZ205-260930-
COZ205-260930-
Colorado River Headwaters-
1127 AM MDT Wed Mar 25 2026

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1127 AM MDT Wed Mar 25 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... 
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR COLORADO
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 200 BELOW 8000 FEET AND 202 BELOW 8000 FEET... 

.DISCUSSION...Critical fire weather conditions are expected in 
northwestern Colorado this afternoon and again tomorrow. Isolated
showers could produce strong gusty winds as well. Friday looks to
be the driest day of the week, but decreased wind gusts may keep 
critical fire weather conditions localized. Temperatures trend 
lower, and relative humidity gradually trends upward this weekend,
although stronger afternoon gusts return as well.


...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%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Max temperature.....67-77 F. 
Min humidity........14-24%. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley winds 4 to 8 mph. Localized 
                    gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon. 
CWR.................0 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 20 to 25 mph. 
Mixing Height.......2000 ft AGL until 1000, then 10000 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 5 to 10 mph until 1200, then west 15 
                    to 20 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Excellent after 1500. 

.TONIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Mostly clear (10-20%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Min temperature.....41-51 F. 
Max humidity........46-56%. 
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....Southwest 20 to 30 mph increasing to west 25 to 
                    35 mph after midnight. 
Mixing Height.......8500 ft AGL until 1900, then 2000 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 5 to 10 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Fair until 2100, then poor. 

.THURSDAY...
Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny (20-30%). Isolated showers after 
                    1200. 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Max temperature.....63-73 F. 
Min humidity........15-25%. 
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.................10 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 30 to 40 mph decreasing to 20 to 30 mph in 
                    the afternoon. 
Mixing Height.......2500 ft AGL until 1000, then 10500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....West 10 to 15 mph until 1200, then 20 to 25 
                    mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Excellent after 1200. 

.FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7...
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers. Lows 30-40. Highs
59-69. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Lows 34-44. Highs 59-69. West winds
10 to 20 mph with gusts to  35 mph. 
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers. Lows 35-45. Highs
59-69. 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. 
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms. Lows 35-45. Highs 49-59.