textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Record heat and predominately dry conditions this weekend and early next week with localized critical fire weather conditions.

- Chance for isolated showers return to the southern mountains and valleys mid to late next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1210 PM MDT Sat Aug 1 2026

The warming trend continues today and tomorrow as the Desert Southwest remains trapped under a broad high pressure center. Though this airmass is drier compared to earlier in the week, we are still holding onto some mild mid-level moisture which will promote some scattered cloud cover and perhaps a few short-lived isolated showers. While this may help dull temperatures in a few localized areas, most locations should expect high temperatures to sit about 10 degrees above normal today, tomorrow, and beyond. This will push and potentially break high temperature records through the weekend for many areas. As such, Extreme Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories remain in place for the next several days.

Late Monday and into Tuesday, a shallow trough transits the northern rockies with flow dipping into northern portions of the CWA. This should drop temperatures a few degrees across some northwestern Colorado areas, though not enough to be brought back to near-normal. This does bring stronger winds though, which could aggravate fire weather conditions, particularly in the Yampa River Basin. Uncertainty remains on how far south this flow will dip, particularly in regards to if it will reach the Grand Valley and Utah Grand Flat where hot temperatures are the most concerning. As of now, it is likely that these areas will continue to hit triple digits through the entire week.

Later in the week, the trough to our north pushes further into the CWA, squashing the Desert Southwest high. This appears to allow some mild moisture to seep northwards towards the Four Corners, though PWAT's only rise to near-normal and is confined to the far southern reaches of the CWA. This could prompt some isolated showers along the San Juans, though as it stands right now, impacts look minimal. It'll be worth keeping an eye on though with this our next shot at any notable precipitation.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/

Issued at 545 PM MDT Sat Aug 1 2026

VFR conditions are expected the next 24 hours with a few cumulus clouds and isolated showers drifting off the San Juans into the southern valleys. Gusty winds to 25 kts are possible through the evening before typical drainage winds occur overnight. Mostly clear skies expected Sunday with a few cumulus over the high terrain during the afternoon and gusts to 20 kts.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Heat Advisory from noon Sunday to 9 PM MDT Monday for COZ006. UT...Heat Advisory from noon Sunday to 9 PM MDT Monday for UTZ022. Heat Advisory from noon to 9 PM MDT Sunday for UTZ024. Extreme Heat Warning until 9 PM MDT Monday for UTZ027-029.