textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Critical Fire Weather conditions continue through Friday, with gusty afternoon winds of 35-45 mph and dry surface air.

- Red Flag Warnings are in effect for eastern Utah and portions of southwestern Colorado from 1PM to 8PM Thursday. A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for the same areas on Friday.

- A pattern shift this weekend brings a brief respite from critical fire weather conditions, with a return of cooler and unsettled weather.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1036 PM MDT Wed May 27 2026

We remain sandwiched between deep low pressure spinning over the Great Basin and amplified ridging east of the Divide. This is keeping strong southwesterly flow in place aloft, driving windy surface conditions and advecting in much drier air. Enough moisture will linger along the spine of the Divide to create a few stray showers, however. But otherwise, clear skies and hot temperatures prevail, with highs running 5-10 degrees above normal. Critical fire weather conditions continue through Friday as the pattern remains relatively stationary.

The fire weather pattern finally ends when the closed low over the Great Basin starts to break down. The now open wave tracks across the Western Slope Friday night into Saturday, resulting in increased moisture, cloud cover, and showers. Currently guidance is favoring shower activity over the higher terrain and generally north of the I- 70 corridor. Temperatures will cool down a bit as well, dropping to around 5 degrees below normal Saturday, and running near-normal Sunday.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1119 PM MDT Wed May 27 2026

Gusty winds are expected for some sites in the afternoon. Otherwise VFR conditions prevail through the period.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1036 PM MDT Wed May 27 2026

A deep closed low continues spinning off to our west, keeping the pressure gradient tight, leading to gusty surface winds each afternoon through Friday. Drier air returns as well, with daytime relative humidity dropping below 15%, particularly in eastern Utah and the Four Corners region. Red Flag Warnings remain in place for Thursday, and have been expanded to include Colorado Fire Weather Zone 292 and Utah Fire Weather Zone 491. Similar conditions occur Friday so a Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for same zones and times, and has also been expanded to include Colorado Fire Weather Zone 292 and Utah Fire Weather Zone 491. A pattern shift this weekend brings lighter winds, increased moisture, and cooler temperatures, bringing an end to this period of elevated fire weather concerns.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Red Flag Warning from 1 PM to 8 PM MDT Thursday for COZ207-290- 292. Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through Friday evening for COZ207-290-292. UT...Red Flag Warning from 1 PM to 8 PM MDT Thursday for UTZ486-487- 490-491. Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through Friday evening for UTZ486-487-490-491.