Red Flag Warning 17, NWS Grand Junction, CO

663 
WWUS85 KGJT 012010
RFWGJT

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
210 PM MDT Sat May 1 2021

COZ200-202-020200-
/O.CON.KGJT.FW.W.0016.000000T0000Z-210502T0200Z/
Little Snake Forecast Area-White River Forecast Area-
210 PM MDT Sat May 1 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 200 AND 202...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Colorado, Fire Weather Zone 200 Little 
  Snake Forecast Area and Fire Weather Zone 202 White River 
  Forecast Area.

* WINDS...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 to 15 percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will become favorable for rapid ignition 
  and spread of fires.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

COZ207-290-292-020700-
/O.CON.KGJT.FW.W.0017.210502T1800Z-210503T0200Z/
Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area-
Paradox Valley Forecast Area-North Fork Forecast Area-
210 PM MDT Sat May 1 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT
SUNDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 207, 290, AND 292...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Colorado, Fire Weather Zone 207 Southwest 
  Colorado Lower Forecast Area, Fire Weather Zone 290 Paradox 
  Valley Forecast Area and Fire Weather Zone 292 North Fork 
  Forecast Area.

* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...9 to 14 percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will become favorable for rapid ignition 
  and spread of fires.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

661 
WWUS85 KGJT 020108
RFWGJT

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
708 PM MDT Sat May 1 2021

COZ200-202-020215-
/O.CAN.KGJT.FW.W.0016.000000T0000Z-210502T0200Z/
Little Snake Forecast Area-White River Forecast Area-
708 PM MDT Sat May 1 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 200 AND 202...

The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has cancelled the
Red Flag Warning.

Winds remain gusty but humidity has recovered to over 20 percent
in most areas as passing showers move through northwest Colorado. 

$$

COZ207-290-292-021200-
/O.CON.KGJT.FW.W.0017.210502T1800Z-210503T0200Z/
Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area-
Paradox Valley Forecast Area-North Fork Forecast Area-
708 PM MDT Sat May 1 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT
SUNDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 207, 290, AND 292...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Colorado, Fire Weather Zone 207 Southwest 
  Colorado Lower Forecast Area, Fire Weather Zone 290 Paradox 
  Valley Forecast Area and Fire Weather Zone 292 North Fork 
  Forecast Area.

* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...9 to 14 percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will become favorable for rapid ignition 
  and spread of fires.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

810 
WWUS85 KGJT 020901
RFWGJT

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
301 AM MDT Sun May 2 2021

COZ207-290-292-030200-
/O.CON.KGJT.FW.W.0017.210502T1800Z-210503T0200Z/
Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area-
Paradox Valley Forecast Area-North Fork Forecast Area-
301 AM MDT Sun May 2 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT
THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 207, 290, AND 292...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Colorado, Fire Weather Zone 207 Southwest 
  Colorado Lower Forecast Area, Fire Weather Zone 290 Paradox 
  Valley Forecast Area and Fire Weather Zone 292 North Fork 
  Forecast Area.

* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...9 to 14 percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will become favorable for rapid ignition 
  and spread of fires.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

389 
WWUS85 KGJT 030153
RFWGJT

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
753 PM MDT Sun May 2 2021

COZ207-290-292-030300-
/O.EXP.KGJT.FW.W.0017.000000T0000Z-210503T0200Z/
Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area-
Paradox Valley Forecast Area-North Fork Forecast Area-
753 PM MDT Sun May 2 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 207, 290, AND 292...

Winds have lessened with relative humidity beginning to recover.
Critical fire weather conditions are no longer being met so will
let the Red Flag Warning expire on time.

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1145 PM MDT Fri Apr 30 2021

.SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Saturday night)
Issued at 245 PM MDT Fri Apr 30 2021

Light, mid to upper level clouds are spilling through the ridge of
high pressure this afternoon. Skies remain clear across the region
at the moment, though these clouds will start trickling into the
CWA later this evening and overnight. Otherwise, a warm and calm
afternoon remains in store as well as a moderate night, as lows
will be well over climo thanks to on going warm air advection.

The next system begins to make it's appearance over the Pacific
coast tonight and will start to suppress the ridge of high
pressure, turning winds southwesterly aloft. Throughout the day
Saturday, the trough deepens and tracks inland which will result
in a tightening pressure gradient across the Western Slope. By
afternoon hours, a 25-35 kt 700 mb jet will drape over south-
central Utah and nose into NW Colorado. Due to another day of dry
and unseasonably warm temperatures, the deeply mixed boundary
layer will transport these strong winds down to the surface by
afternoon hours. Very dry conditions and winds exceeding 25 mph
across NW Colorado have warranted the Fire Watch to be upgraded to
a Red Flag Warning for tomorrow afternoon. SW Colorado lies just
outside the nose of increased upper level winds, reducing the
spatial extent of winds reaching critical thresholds. For that
reason, have opted out in including these regions in fire products
for Saturday, though, localized regions will likely see spikes of
critical conditions throughout the afternoon.

Hi-Res guidance has also picked up some isolated storms generating
along and north of the I-70 corridor Saturday afternoon/evening.
However, given the substantially dry environment preceding this
next system, there is minimal chance for precipitation reaching
the ground over lower valleys...Gusty outflow winds and near
record highs will rule. Convective showers may develop across the
central and northern mountains Saturday evening, though, don't
anticipate much to wring out of these cells, either. The better
source of mositure and cold front will be right on our door step,
nudging into NE Utah/NE Colorado Saturday night which will bring a
change in weather as we jump into the long term...

.LONG TERM...(Sunday through Friday)
Issued at 245 PM MDT Fri Apr 30 2021

The cold front will continue to push across northeast Utah and
northwest Colorado on Sunday morning before stalling near the I-70
corridor Sunday afternoon. So while cool and unsettled conditions
will prevail across the northern tier of the forecast area
throughout the day, areas further south will remain dry and breezy
ahead of the front. As a result, critical fire weather conditions
are likely to redevelop across the Four Corners region on Sunday.
Therefore, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Colorado fire
zones 207, 290 and 292 where fuels are considered critical. As far
as precipitation goes, Bufkit soundings show saturated midlevels
across the north with a lessening T/Td spread at the surface by
late Sunday afternoon. As previously mentioned, the mild southwest
flow out ahead of this system will limit snow to the highest
terrain initially with snow levels finally dropping below 10kft
Sunday night. The cold front will continue to drag south on Monday
with 700mb temperatures dropping to 0 to -4 degrees C across the
northern two-thirds of the region. The associated upper level
trough will also progress across the area throughout the day on
Monday and, while the peak lift associated with this system will
remain to our south Sunday night and then to our east Monday,
enough upper level support will be present to fuel widespread
precipitation. The highest totals will be centered along the
Divide with several inches of snow likely above 10kft. However, as
we've seen with the last several events roads will generally
remain wet given the high sun angle. Therefore, significant
impacts are not expected.

Shower coverage will diminish from west to east Monday evening as
the trough lifts east into the Plains. An embedded wave in the
northwest flow aloft will slide overhead for Tuesday, fueling
continued orographic showers along the Divide into Wednesday. High
pressure will rebuild over the region for Thursday and Friday
resulting in a dry end to the work week.

Temperatures on Sunday, while at least 6 to 12 degrees cooler than
Saturday's readings, will still sit above normal for early May.
Values will plunge to well below normal on Monday and Tuesday in
the wake of the trough. However, a warming trend is on track for
mid to late week as the ridge amplifies overhead.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday night)
Issued at 1145 PM MDT Fri Apr 30 2021

Almost zero probability of anything other that VFR the next 24
hours across the forecast terminals. Gusty afternoon winds could
bring 25 to 35 mph winds at several sites which will be the
biggest impacts today.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 245 PM MDT Fri Apr 30 2021

Near record high temperatures on Saturday will generate a deep
mixing layer and bring gusty winds down to the surface in the
afternoon. Northwest Colorado will be most favorable to reach Red
Flag criteria, where RHs will drop to low teens and strong winds
aloft will generate gusts up to 35 mph. Localized areas in
southwest Colorado will likely see spikes of critical conditions
as well. However, these zones fell short of the spatial and
temporal extent of critical conditions necessary to warrant any
fire weather products. Fire weather conditions are to be expected
across eastern Utah, though most recent guidance depicts fuels
above critical, so will continue to leave these areas out as well.
By Sunday, southwest Colorado will become favorable to reach Red
Flag conditions as the next system's front is "held up" along the
complex terrain in northwest Colorado and eastern Utah. The cold
front and precipitation will finally move through the entire
region Sunday night to Monday, suppressing fire weather concerns
through early next week.

&&

.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CO...Fire Weather Watch from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening
     for COZ207-290-292.

     Red Flag Warning from noon to 8 PM MDT Saturday for COZ200-202.

UT...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...ERW
LONG TERM...MMS
AVIATION...TGJT
FIRE WEATHER...TGJT

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
344 AM MDT Fri Apr 30 2021

COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-010945-
Lower Yampa River Basin-Central Yampa River Basin-
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus-Elkhead and Park Mountains-
Upper Yampa River Basin-Grand Valley-Debeque to Silt Corridor-
Central Colorado River Basin-Grand and Battlement Mesas-
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys-
Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin-
West Elk and Sawatch Mountains-Flat Tops-
Upper Gunnison River Valley-Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide-
Northwest San Juan Mountains-Southwest San Juan Mountains-
Paradox Valley/Lower Dolores River-
Four Corners/Upper Dolores River-Animas River Basin-
San Juan River Basin-Southeast Utah-Eastern Uinta Mountains-
Eastern Uinta Basin-Tavaputs Plateau-Arches/Grand Flat-
La Sal and Abajo Mountains-Canyonlands/Natural Bridges-
344 AM MDT Fri Apr 30 2021

This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western
Colorado.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Widespread hazardous weather is not expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Critical fire weather conditions are possible this weekend.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed.