


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
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413 FXUS65 KGJT 120537 AFDGJT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 1137 PM MDT Fri Jul 11 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Hot and dry conditions continue with chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms today and Saturday on terrain. - Gusty outflows and dry lightning will continue to pose threats to wildfire management today and tomorrow. - Hot and dry conditions persist into next week. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 251 PM MDT Fri Jul 11 2025 Hot and dry conditions are in the forecast for the short term. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms over the higher terrain have begun today, with support from weak moisture advection over the Divide, and are expected again tomorrow. Dry thunderstorms are possible given our lack of atmospheric moisture, which means the primary concerns with these storms are lightning and gusty outflows. High pressure centered to our southwest will keep temperatures above normal over the coming days. As a result, near or above triple digit high temperatures are possible in the desert valleys. There are multiple active wildfires in our region producing smoke. Most of this smoke is expected to stay south of I-70 while we are under northwesterly flow. Widespread dry conditions will remain in place through the short term, and afternoon relative humidity values will fall below 15% for most of the CWA expect for the highest terrain. Afternoon wind gusts are anticipated to generally stay below critical fire weather thresholds, although gusts near or above 25 mph are possible in some local areas, creating localized Red Flag conditions. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Issued at 251 PM MDT Fri Jul 11 2025 On Sunday high pressure will be positioned over the Desert Southwest leaving us under weak northwest aloft through early next week. As a result temperatures look to run about 5 degrees above normal. Given the weak flow moisture should linger in the region mainly across the southern half of the forecast area. Therefore there is a chance for diurnally driven showers over the high terrain each afternoon with a focus in and around the San Juans. Rainfall rates will generally be light given the warm temperatures, and showers will be capable of producing strong outflow winds. It is evident now that some places are very susceptible to lightning fire starts, and that potential will continue until temperatures cool and moisture arrive. Over the course of next week models want to migrate the high pressure eastward, which should not change the sensible weather here much. Although by late week that high gets situated to our east opening the door to southerly flow. This flow will allow moisture to spread into our area, so we should see an uptick in the convection. Hopefully this moisture can give us some relief from the hot and dry conditions in place. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1132 PM MDT Fri Jul 11 2025 Mostly clear skies and VFR conditions will continue at terminals, as high pressure pushes in from the west Saturday. Non zero chances for showers and thunderstorms will continue against the Divide, but confidence is low in storms forming far enough west to impact terminals. KGUC, KASE, and KEGE are favorable for a VCSH, but held off on PROB30 storms. Showers/storms will produce gusty outflows and lightning, but not much else with the dry air in place. Wildfire smoke will continue to ebb and flow across southwest Colorado. Mentioned reduced visibility in KMTJ, KGUC, KTEX, and KDRO thanks to smoke. Northerly flow will likely keep other terminals out of the path of smoke plumes. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...GF LONG TERM...KJS AVIATION...TGJT