textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Hot and dry weather continues through the seven-day forecast with the chance to set daily high temperature records each afternoon.

- Hot, dry, and windy conditions will lead to critical weather concerns this afternoon in areas where fuels are deemed critical.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1207 PM MDT Sat Mar 21 2026

RINSE AND REPEAT: Warm and Dry Conditions Continue

High pressure continues to drive the forecast for the week ahead as record-setting heat builds across the Desert Southwest. While temperatures moderate some tomorrow, the reprieve will be short lived. Afternoon highs are projected to remain 15 to 25 degrees above normal with daily high temperature records continuing to be up for grabs through the forecast period. The March all-time high temperature record at the Grand Junction Airport, which currently sits at 85 (yesterday's high temperature), remains up for grabs as well. While PWATs aloft increase Sunday and beyond, measurable precipitation will be hard to come by in this hot and dry regime.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/

Issued at 550 PM MDT Sat Mar 21 2026

Gusty winds will remain through the rest of the daylight hours with gusts 25 to 40 mph at times. Winds will subside near dusk this evening with light terrain driven winds overnight. VFR conditions will prevail under partly to mostly clear skies with some scattered/broken high clouds streaming through. Winds on Sunday afternoon will be breezy at times but overall much lighter than today.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1149 AM MDT Sat Mar 21 2026

Hot, dry, and windy conditions will lead to critical weather conditions this afternoon where fuels are deemed critical (northwest Colorado). Wind gusts up to 40 mph will join forces with single-digit relative humidity values and unseasonably warm temperatures. As such, Red Flag Warnings have been issued through 8 PM this evening. Elsewhere, fuels are not deemed critical, but burning could get out of hand on this hot, dry, and windy day.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ200>202. UT...None.