textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Critical fire weather conditions are expected daily through Wednesday as winds increase. Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches are in effect.

- Gusts of 25-35 mph are expected each afternoon, with gusts up to 45 mph possible on Wednesday.

- Triple digit heat is possible across the desert valleys Wednesday through the end of the week, with all areas seeing highs 10-15 degrees above normal.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1036 AM MDT Mon Jun 15 2026

With troughing across the eastern two-thirds of the country, and ridging building in along the West Coast, the Intermountain West finds itself under northwesterly flow aloft. This will keep the airmass nice and dry, with minimum daytime humidities in the teens to single digits for all but the highest elevations. Additionally, eastern Utah and western Colorado will be on the edge of a 60-80 knot upper level jet that will mix down 25-35 mph afternoon gusts each afternoon. As a result, critical fire weather conditions are possible each afternoon. Winds increase daily, leading to increasing coverage of critical fire weather conditions. On Wednesday a combination of a tightening pressure gradient aloft and passing waves to our north will bring the strongest winds of the week. Gusts of 35-45 mph are expected, resulting in the potential for widespread critical fire weather conditions. As the ridge builds in from the west starting Thursday, the strongest winds will shift east. Critical Fire Weather conditions remain possible for the back half of the week, but will likely be focused along the Divide.

Temperatures will run around 5 degrees above normal today and tomorrow, jumping to 10-15 degrees above normal by Wednesday. This means the potential for triple digit heat across the desert valleys, including the Grand Valley. This heat will stick with us through at least the end of the week. Models are suggesting the ridge breaks down by the weekend, ushering in a potential return to slightly cooler conditions with mountain showers and thunderstorms.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1141 AM MDT Mon Jun 15 2026

With the exception of a low chance of afternoon convection in the southern Colorado mountains, precipitation is not expected today. Wind gusts around 20 to 30 kts are forecast at most sites through sunset this evening. VFR conditions will prevail.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1036 AM MDT Mon Jun 15 2026

Critical fire weather conditions are expected through at least Wednesday. The coverage expands tomorrow and Wednesday to most of the zones therefore the watches and warnings have been extended. The highest winds will be on Wednesday with gusts upwards of 45-50 mph in spots. By Friday limited moisture returns, which may result in showers and storms. Although confidence in this period is low. In fact, the critical fire weather may keep going each day into the weekend.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Red Flag Warning from 1 PM to 9 PM MDT Tuesday for COZ200-202- 203-205-207-290-292>294. Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday evening for COZ200-202-203-205-207-290>294. Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ205-292. UT...Red Flag Warning from 1 PM to 9 PM MDT Tuesday for UTZ486-487- 490-491. Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday evening for UTZ486-487-490-491.