Areas of Extreme Heat and Fire Weather in the Northwest U.S.; Heavy Rain in the West and South-central U.S.

Extreme heat will continue in the interior Northwest into midweek before finally waning. Hot temperatures, dry, gusty winds, and isolated dry thunderstorms will bring critical fire weather. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected across portions of the Great Basin, Rockies, and central/southern Plains. An atmospheric river will bring heavy rain and strong winds to southwest Alaska. Read More >

A strong cold front will continue pushing through eastern Utah and western Colorado during the later afternoon and into this evening. Gusty southwest winds ahead of the front will reach speeds from 45 to 55 mph across the valleys, with speeds up to 70 mph to 11,000 feet in the mountains with gusts in excess of 75 mph higher up. This will result in areas of blowing and drifting snow and lowered visibility in the high country.

As the cold front approaches, a line of showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop and move east across the region. A few of these thunderstorms will be capable of producing strong wind gusts in excess of 58 mph.

Snow levels will start off around 8500 feet, but will lower to the valleys floors across northeast Utah and northwest Colorado as the cold front moves through. Locally heavy snow will occur over the western Colorado mountains from Steamboat Springs south to near Crested Butte. Expect a 1 to 3 hour period of the heavier snowfall with near whiteout conditions expected as the snow combines with the blowing and drifting snow being kicked up by the strong winds. Snow drifts could exceed 4 feet over the Park and Gore Ranges near Steamboat Springs.

Maximum Wind Gust

Current Hazards

Snow Forecast

Thunderstorm Outlook

Image of forecast wind gusts today