COZ205-220400-
COZ205-220400-
Colorado River Headwaters-
550 AM MDT Thu May 21 2026

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
550 AM MDT Thu May 21 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR COLORADO
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 207 AND 290, AS WELL AS UTAH FIRE WEATHER ZONE
490... 

.DISCUSSION...

Critical fire weather conditions will continue across portions of
eastern UT and southwest CO today through Saturday. A passing 
front will produce showers and thunderstorms for northeast UT and 
northwest CO today, including wetting rains. Winds will shift to 
the northwest this evening behind the front. Warmer drier 
conditions return this weekend, but winds remain light Sunday 
through Tuesday, before widespread critical fire weather 
conditions potentially return on Wednesday.

...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 (20-30%) until 1200, then partly 
                    cloudy (50-60%). Isolated showers and 
                    thunderstorms after 1200. 
Chc of lightning....20 percent. 
Max temperature.....56-66 F. 
Min humidity........19-29%. 
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 20 to 30 mph increasing to southwest 25 to 
                    35 mph in the afternoon. 
Mixing Height.......1500 ft AGL until 0900, then 10500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Southwest 10 to 15 mph until 1200, then west 20 
                    to 30 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Excellent after 1200. 

.TONIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (40-50%). Scattered showers and 
                    isolated thunderstorms until 2400, isolated 
                    showers after 2400. 
Chc of lightning....20 percent. 
Min temperature.....26-36 F. 
Max humidity........77-92%. 
20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley winds 3 to 6 mph. 
                    Localized gusts up to 30 mph in the evening. 
CWR.................40 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 30 to 40 mph. 
Mixing Height.......5000 ft AGL until 2100, then 1000 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....West 10 to 15 mph until 2400, then 5 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Good until 2100, then poor. 

.FRIDAY...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (40-50%) until 1200, then mostly 
                    cloudy (70-80%). 
Chc of lightning....0 percent. 
Max temperature.....54-64 F. 
Min humidity........20-30%. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley winds 4 to 8 mph. Localized 
                    gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon. 
CWR.................0 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 20 to 25 mph. 
Mixing Height.......7500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....West 5 mph until 1200, then 10 to 15 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Good after 1200. 

.FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7...
.SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 31-41. Highs 59-69. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows
33-43. Highs 66-76. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.MEMORIAL DAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 37-47. Highs 69-79. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy. Numerous showers and scattered
thunderstorms. Lows 38-48. Highs 62-72. 
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 36-46. Highs 68-78.