The Horse Draw Fire started in late June due to a lightning strike 24 miles east of Dinosaur, Colorado.
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The episode as NWS GJT wrote it up.
The Horse Draw Fire started in late June due to a lightning strike 24 miles east of Dinosaur, Colorado.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Grand Junction, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 26, 9:36 AM MST, 3 hours 18 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 1036 AM MDT Thu Jun 26 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Warm and dry conditions dominates the forecast through the weekend. - An influx in moisture leads to increasing precipitation chances early next week. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/... Issued at 258 AM MDT Thu Jun 26 2025 Rising upper-level heights and a weak gradient aloft will generally lead to warm and dry conditions with light, terrain- driven winds today and tomorrow. Temperatures warm a few degrees each afternoon. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 242 PM MDT Wed Jun 25 2025 Going into this weekend conditions remain dry as a ridge of high pressure builds over the Intermountain West. In addition to a dry pattern temperatures climb to 5-10 degrees above normal for the weekend. Under the ridge winds relax so critical fire weather is not much of a concern although localized red flag is possible in spots. Early next week we see signs of the high pulling in moisture from the south, which will result in a uptick in afternoon convection. A trough over SoCal will also work together with the high to funnel moisture into the area. Eventually it may track over the region and provide extra lift for more widespread showers, but being so far out these details are unknown. The increase in showers and storms early next week could mean cooler temperatures due to the rain and clouds especially in the mountains. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1036 AM MDT Thu Jun 26 2025 VFR conditions continue. Predominantly diurnal influences with wind speeds and directions, generally around 5 to 10 kts with occasional gusts to 20 kts through the afternoon becoming light overnight. A few high clouds may persist through the afternoon, mainly across the mountain terrain as well as VEL. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && SHORT TERM...KAA LONG TERM...KJS AVIATION...TGJT
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 221 AM MDT Thu Jun 26 2025 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-271200- 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- 221 AM MDT Thu Jun 26 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Colorado, southwest Colorado, west central Colorado, east central Utah, northeast Utah and southeast Utah. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Afternoon thunderstorms return to the forecast early next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The Horse Draw Fire started in late June due to a lightning strike 24 miles east of Dinosaur, Colorado. The fire grew to 748 acres before it was contained three days later in late June. The estimated cost to date was $216,022.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, June 2025
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1274964.