387
FXUS65 KGJT 172316
AFDGJT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
516 PM MDT TUE MAR 17 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- HOT, DRY, AND BREEZY CONDITIONS DOMINATE THIS WEEK'S FORECAST.
- WELL ABOVE NORMAL HIGH TEMPERATURES MAY BREAK RECORDS THURSDAY
THROUGH SATURDAY.
DISCUSSION
ISSUED AT 1141 AM MDT TUE MAR 17 2026
MID-LEVEL WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS DRIER AIR MOVING INTO OUR CWA AS
WEST COAST HIGH PRESSURE MOVES EASTWARD, PROPAGATING THE FLOW
CONTAINING ELEVATED ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE TO THE EAST AS WELL. AS
SUCH, SKIES HAVE MOSTLY CLEARED AS MOISTURE MOVES OUT, BUT
LINGERING UPPER-LEVEL MOISTURE WILL ALLOW FOR HIGH CLOUDS TO
MOVE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY. TONIGHT AN ANOMALOUSLY DRY AIRMASS
MOVES INTO THE WEST AS THE CENTER OF HIGH PRESSURE MOVES
INLAND. THIS AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE LOOKS TO SLOWLY MOVE
EASTWARD THROUGH THE WEEK, DRIVING A PERIOD OF HOT, DRY, AND
BREEZY WEATHER THROUGH AT LEAST SATURDAY. GUSTY AFTERNOON WINDS
COUPLED WITH A LACK OF ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE WILL LEAD TO AREAS
WITH FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS, BUT FUELS ARE STILL NOT YET
CRITICAL.
HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL INCREASE BY A FEW DEGREES EACH DAY THROUGH
SATURDAY. TODAY HIGHS WILL BE AROUND 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL, BUT BY
SATURDAY HIGHS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AROUND 25 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.
THIS COULD MEAN TEMPERATURES REACHING 90 DEGREES OR ABOVE IN SOME OF
THE EASTERN UTAH VALLEY AREAS, AND MID 80S IN THE GRAND VALLEY. SO,
THIS IS ANTICIPATED TO RESULT IN SOME BROKEN RECORDS. A FLATTENING
OF THE RIDGE IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEKEND SHOULD DROP HIGH
TEMPERATURES BY A FEW DEGREES.
AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/
ISSUED AT 514 PM MDT TUE MAR 17 2026
VFR CONDITIONS AND TERRAIN-DRIVEN WINDS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE
TAF PERIOD. A FEW SITES MAY EXPERIENCE GUSTS IN THE AFTERNOON.
GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CO...NONE.
UT...NONE.
DISCUSSION...GF
AVIATION...TGJT
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