textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Record high temperatures remain possible through Monday.

- Red Flag Warnings are in effect for the northwest and west- central Colorado valleys today and Monday from 12-8 pm MDT.

- A pattern shift is expected Tuesday through the coming week, bringing cooler temperatures, valley rain, and potentially some mountain snow.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1021 PM MDT Sat Mar 28 2026

HOT, DRY, AND WINDY WEATHER CONTINUES:

High pressure lingers to our southeast while a jet remains just to our north, keeping eastern Utah and western Colorado under a hot, dry, and windy pattern. Passing weak, dry shortwaves in the flow to the north will increase mixing and tap into some stronger winds aloft, resulting in afternoon wind gusts of 25-35 mph through Monday. Surface levels remain very dry, with lower elevations seeing minimum daytime humidity values below 15%. As a result, fire weather concerns remain elevated to critical. Temperatures will also continue to run 15-20 degrees above normal, approaching or possibly breaking records.

PATTERN SHIFT:

A trough moves into the Pacific Northwest Sunday night and will track across the Northern Plains Monday into Tuesday. It's attendant cold front will move through our forecast area on Tuesday. Temperatures will fall behind the front with near- normal temperatures forecasted to return by Wednesday. At the same time, moisture begins to increase from the south with PWATs climbing to 150-200% of normal. There are discrepancies in model guidance as to whether the lingering frontal boundary will be the only trigger for precipitation or if a secondary wave will develop and enhance coverage. As it stands, blended guidance is favoring widespread precipitation, with nighttime snow at elevations above 9000 feet.

A second Pacific system is set to move through on Friday, potentially bringing an even more impressive cool down to around 10 degrees below normal and another round of widespread precipitation.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/

Issued at 557 AM MDT Sun Mar 29 2026

High clouds will pass through the area today with VFR conditions. Winds increase this afternoon with gusts 20 to 30 mph and VFR conditions.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1027 PM MDT Sat Mar 28 2026

Red Flag Warnings remain in effect for gusty winds and low relative humidity for the lower elevations of northwest Colorado Sunday and Monday afternoons. A fuels update has resulted in the expansion of the Red Flag Warnings to include CO Fire Weather Zones 203 and 205 below 7500 feet. The Fire Weather Watch on Monday has been upgraded to a Red Flag Warning. Increasing moisture and a shift to cooler and unsettled weather on Tuesday will bring an end to this stretch of critical fire weather conditions.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Red Flag Warning from noon today to 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ200-202-203-205. Red Flag Warning from noon to 8 PM MDT Monday for COZ200-202- 203-205. UT...None.