FNUS75 KGJT 200657
FWSGJT

SPOT FORECAST FOR TOMICHI...USFS GUNNISON
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1257 AM MDT FRI MAR 20 2009

FORECAST IS BASED ON IGNITION TIME OF 1630 MDT ON MARCH 20.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...
A STRONG RIDGE WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA TODAY WITH THE MAIN PART OF
THE RIDGE MOVING EAST OF THE AREA BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. A WEAK
DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE OVER SOUTHERN COLORADO, ADDING A BIT OF
MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY. EXPECT ISOLATED MOUNTAIN SHOWERS AND THE
SLIGHT CHANCE OF A THUNDERSTORM THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS ALOFT WILL BE
MODERATE AND FROM THE SOUTHWEST.

.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY (60-80%) MAINLY MID AND HIGH
                    CLOUD. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY A
                    THUNDERSTORM OVER NEARBY MOUNTAINS.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....49-54 F.
MIN HUMIDITY........21-26%.
20-FOOT WINDS.......DOWNSLOPE/DOWNVALLEY 2-5 MPH UNTIL 1100, THEN
                    WEST 5-10 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 15 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR UNTIL 1030, THEN FAIR. IMPROVING TO GOOD
                    ABOUT NOON.
MIXING HEIGHT.......INCREASING TO 7700 FT AGL BY 1400.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....DOWNSLOPE/DOWNVALLEY 5 MPH UNTIL 1100, THEN
                    BECOMING WEST 12 MPH.

.TONIGHT...

SMOKE DISPERSAL.....AFTER SUNSET BECOMING POOR.

OUTLOOK FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 3/21 AND 3/22 - WARM AND DRY
SATURDAY WITH SLOWLY INCREASING SOUTHWEST WINDS AHEAD A STRONG
PACIFIC STORM. THE STORM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA SUNDAY
AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY NIGHT. SUNDAY SHOULD START OUT DRY AND WINDY
(STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS), THEN A SURFACE COLD FRONT WILL PASS
LATE IN THE AFTERNOON WITH RAIN AND SNOW LIKELY.

$$
FORECASTER...CHRIS CUOCO
REQUESTED BY...J  CHONKA
TYPE OF REQUEST...PRESCRIBED
.TAG 20090319.TOMIC.01/GJT