Colorado River Headwaters (COZ205) - Fire Weather Forecast

Severe Thunderstorms and Flooding from the Southern Plains to the Great Lakes; Record Heat in the East

Widely scattered severe thunderstorms may produce damaging winds, hail, and flash flooding from the southern Plains into the lower Great Lakes. Elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions will persist across portions of the Southwest and Southern High Plains due to gusty winds and dry conditions. An early-season heatwave will challenge temperature records across the eastern U.S.. Read More >

COZ205-200000- COZ205-200000- Colorado River Headwaters- 153 AM MDT Tue May 19 2026 Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 153 AM MDT Tue May 19 2026 .DISCUSSION... A chance for showers and thunderstorms continues today and Wednesday against the Continental Divide. A chance for more widespread shower activity returns to northwest CO Thursday and Friday along with stronger winds ahead of the system. Critical fire weather conditions remain localized through the period. Temperatures remain below to near normal until the weekend, when warmer and drier conditions will return. ...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.........Partly cloudy (50-60%). Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 1200. Chc of lightning....10 percent. Max temperature.....51-61 F. Min humidity........32-42%. 20-foot winds.......Downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph becoming upslope/upvalley 4 to 8 mph by 1100. CWR.................10 percent. 15K Ft MSL Winds....Southwest 20 to 30 mph. Mixing Height.......1000 ft AGL until 0900. 7500 ft AGL after 1100. Transport Winds.....Southwest 5 mph until 1200, then 15 to 20 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Very good after 1200. .TONIGHT... Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (40-50%). Isolated thunderstorms until 2400. Isolated showers. Chc of lightning....10 percent. Min temperature.....28-38 F. Max humidity........78-93%. 20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley 4 to 8 mph becoming downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph by sunset. CWR.................10 percent. 15K Ft MSL Winds....Southwest 25 to 35 mph. Mixing Height.......5500 ft AGL until 2000. 500 ft AGL after 2200. Transport Winds.....Northwest 5 to 10 mph until 2400, then east. Smoke dispersal.....Poor. .WEDNESDAY... Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (30-40%). Scattered showers. Scattered thunderstorms after 1200. Chc of lightning....20 percent. Max temperature.....52-62 F. Min humidity........28-38%. 20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley winds 4 to 8 mph. Localized gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon. CWR.................20 percent. 15K Ft MSL Winds....Southwest 20 to 30 mph decreasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Mixing Height.......1500 ft AGL until 0900. 8000 ft AGL after 1000. Transport Winds.....Southwest 5 to 10 mph until 1200, then west 15 to 20 mph. Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Very good after 1200. .FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7... .THURSDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows 27-37. Highs 55-65. West winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph. .FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Lows 29-39. Highs 56-66. Winds less than 15 mph. .SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows 31-41. Highs 61-71. Winds less than 15 mph. .SUNDAY...Mostly clear. Lows 34-44. Highs 67-77. .MEMORIAL DAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows 36-46. Highs 70-80.