National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Fire Weather Concerns in the Southern Plains and Southeast; Thunderstorms in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic

Elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions will continue across portions of the Southern Plains and Southeast today due to gusty winds and low humidity. Widely scattered strong to severe storms may impact southern Texas through the Southeast and the central Appalachians and southern Mid-Atlantic. Read More >

COZ205-301215-
COZ205-301215-
Colorado River Headwaters-
205 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for Wrn Colorado and Ern Utah
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
205 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026

.DISCUSSION...

Isolated showers and thunderstorms continue on the mountains, 
with better chances for thunderstorms Thursday and Friday. Wetting
rains and snow increase in likelihood on Thursday and Friday too.
Gusty outflows will continue to threaten around showers. Warmer, 
drier conditions return this weekend for the lower elevations, 
however critical fire weather conditions are not expected due to 
lighter winds and higher relative humidities.

...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%). Isolated showers and 
                    thunderstorms until 2400. 
Chc of lightning....10 percent. 
Min temperature.....25-35 F. 
Max humidity........65-80%. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley 4 to 8 mph becoming 
                    downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph by sunset.
CWR.................20 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 10 to 15 mph. 
Mixing Height.......7500 ft AGL until 2000, then 2500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....North 5 to 10 mph until 2400, then east. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor. 

.THURSDAY...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (50-60%) until 1200, then mostly 
                    cloudy (70-80%). Scattered showers until 1200, 
                    then numerous showers and scattered 
                    thunderstorms. 
Chc of lightning....50 percent. 
Max temperature.....46-56 F. 
Min humidity........28-38%. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley winds 4 to 8 mph. Localized 
                    gusts up to 20 mph in the afternoon. 
CWR.................50 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....West 10 to 15 mph. 
Mixing Height.......2500 ft AGL until 0900, then 9000 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Northwest 5 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Good after 1200. 

.THURSDAY NIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (50-60%). Scattered showers and 
                    isolated thunderstorms until 2400, scattered snow 
                    showers after 2400. 
Chc of lightning....20 percent. 
Min temperature.....24-34 F. 
Max humidity........73-88%. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley 4 to 8 mph becoming 
                    downslope/downvalley 3 to 6 mph by sunset.
CWR.................40 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....Northwest 10 to 15 mph shifting to the 
                    southwest 5 to 10 mph after midnight. 
Mixing Height.......5500 ft AGL until 2000, then 2500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Northeast 5 to 10 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor. 

.FRIDAY...
Sky/weather.........Partly cloudy (50-60%) until 1200, then mostly 
                    cloudy (60-70%). Scattered snow showers until 
                    1200, then scattered showers and isolated 
                    thunderstorms. 
Chc of lightning....20 percent. 
Max temperature.....48-58 F. 
Min humidity........25-35%. 
20-foot winds.......Upslope/upvalley winds 4 to 8 mph. Localized 
                    gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon. 
CWR.................30 percent. 
15K Ft MSL Winds....Southeast 5 mph shifting to the northeast 5 to 
                    10 mph in the afternoon. 
Mixing Height.......3500 ft AGL until 0900, then 8500 ft AGL. 
Transport Winds.....Northeast 5 mph. 
Smoke dispersal.....Poor until 0900. Fair after 1200. 

.FORECAST FOR DAY 3 THROUGH 7...
.SATURDAY...Mostly clear. Isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 23-33. Highs 54-64. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Lows
29-39. Highs 56-66. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms. Lows 32-42. Highs 57-67. Winds less than 15 mph. 
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 32-42. Highs 54-64. 
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms. Lows 30-40. Highs 51-61.