893
FXUS65 KGJT 241924
AFDGJT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
124 PM MDT Fri Apr 24 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Gusty winds of 25-35 mph are be possible most afternoons
  through the weekend, with gusts to 45 mph possible for areas
  along and north of I-70 today.

- Dry surface conditions, critical fuels, and gusty winds are
  producing critical fire weather conditions in northwest
  Colorado. Red Flag Warnings are in effect.

- Widespread rain and mountain snow returns Saturday night
  through Sunday. Cooler and unsettled weather continues through
  the work week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 119 PM MDT Fri Apr 24 2026

Winds are picking up across the region as the stronger winds start
mixing down with the diurnal heating. Look for the stronger winds
gusting 30 to 45 mph the northern valleys and 20 to 35 mph through
the central and southern valleys. The dry airmass in place combined
with the winds are producing widespread critical fire weather
conditions cross eastern Utah and Western Colorado with a Red Flag
Warning (RFW) for northwestern Colorado where the heavy fuels are
critically dry in place through 9 PM this evening. Though you may
not be in an area with the RFW, you will still want to exercise
extra care with any ignition sources, such as campfires,
agricultural burning, recreational vehicles or dragging chains as
any fire start can rapidly spread in these winds. Winds will taper
off through the evening and overnight, picking up again tomorrow,
but the winds up north won`t be as strong. Temperatures will run
near normal today and tomorrow.

COOL, WET PATTERN SUNDAY ONWARD:

Saturday will see the winds turn more southwesterly to start pumping
moist Pacific air into the region. We`ll see increasing clouds
through the afternoon with showers moving in from the west through
the evening and overnight. By Sunday morning rain will be widespread
across the region with snow above about 9000 feet. This system
should bring about a quarter inch of rain through the lower valleys
with less in some areas and more in other areas. The mountains will
see more precip, especially on the southern and western slopes.
Sunday afternoon will see more convective conditions with the
dynamics of the left exit region of the jet passing overhead. Look
for widely scattered thunderstorms developing through the late
morning and afternoon with some possibly producing brief periods of
strong gusty winds and heavy rain. It`s still a little early to tell
for sure how strong these storms will be so stay tuned for updates.
It seems a bit early in the season for this, but any time there is
lightning, seek shelter; when thunder roars, go indoors. With the
showers and heavy cloud cover, temperatures Sunday will run five to
ten degrees below normal.

Unsettled weather continues through the coming work week with
passing disturbances almost daily. Temperatures will gradually warm
to near normal by mid week where they continue through Friday.
Models are hinting at another storm system possible for next
weekend. Stay tuned to find out.


&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1108 AM MDT Fri Apr 24 2026

Expect VFR conditions through the TAF period. Winds pick up at
most sites through the afternoon with stronger winds gusting
over 30 kts generally along and north of I-70 and mid to upper
20`s elsewhere. These winds will diminish after 01Z becoming
light terrain driven after 06Z. Winds pick up again after 16Z
with the stronger winds generally along and south of I-70.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1044 PM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026

Dry and breezy conditions continue across eastern Utah and
Western Colorado. Winds are gusting 25-35 mph across the
region and 45 mph along and north of I-70. Fuels remain
critical across northwest Colorado. Therefore, with the
combination of winds, low humidity, and critical fuels, Red Flag
Warnings are in effect for Colorado Fire Weather Zones 201 and
202 from noon through 9 PM. Increasing moisture and cooler
temperatures Saturday onward will limit critical fire weather
potential.

&&

.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

CO...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for COZ200-202.
UT...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...DB
AVIATION...DB
FIRE WEATHER...TGJT