FXUS65 KGJT 200343 AFDGJT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 943 PM MDT Thu Mar 19 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Hot and dry conditions continue into the weekend. Gusty afternoon winds may cause elevated fire weather concerns where fuels are critical, especially on Saturday. - Record highs are expected for most locations through Saturday. A slight cooldown is expected on Sunday before temperatures increase again. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 931 PM MDT Thu Mar 19 2026 High pressure building over the region has lead to anomalously warm temperatures and very dry conditions. In fact, we broke the all-time record high for the month of March today with 82 degrees. There is even a chance we could potentially break the all-time record for the month of April, which is 89 degrees. Needless to say there will likely be several records broken just about each day into next week. Deep mixing has allowed some locations to see gusty winds in the afternoon, and that may occur again on Friday. On Saturday a system tracking over the northern Rockies will flatten the ridge and send a weak cold front into the region. Ahead of that front the pressure gradient increases therefore winds increase on Saturday. It is also the day with the warmest temperatures during this period. This combination will cause elevated fire weather concerns where fuels are critical. Conditions cool down slightly on Sunday, but still record breaking highs are possible. Moisture that accompanies the front will struggle to produce measurable precipitation in this hot and dry regime. The only exception would be the highest elevations of the northern Divide, but even that is looking like a stretch. The ridge builds back in on Monday and Tuesday so the record heat and dry conditions continue. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 533 PM MDT Thu Mar 19 2026 VFR conditions will prevail with SKC through the next 24 hours. Winds will continue gusting 20 to 30 mph early this evening, becoming light and terrain driven after sunset. Some breezy conditions with gusts 20 to 25 mph are possible at higher elevation terminals Friday afternoon as well. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1153 AM MDT Thu Mar 19 2026 Hot and dry conditions are expected to persist over the next few days. On Saturday fire weather concerns look to be the most elevated due to increased afternoon wind gusts. Many high terrain areas and valleys north of I-70 could see gusts exceed 30 mph Saturday afternoon. Relative humidity is expected to drop below 10 percent for all but the highest elevations through Saturday. Fire Weather Watches have been issued for Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM in areas where fuels have been deemed critical. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through Saturday evening for COZ200-201-202. UT...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...TGJT AVIATION...TGJT FIRE WEATHER...GF