FNUS75 KGJT 120932
FWSGJT

SPOT FORECAST FOR WEST VAIL PILES...USFS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
232 AM MST FRI MAR 12 2010

FORECAST IS BASED ON IGNITION TIME OF 1100 MST ON MARCH 12.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...A HIGHLY AMPLIFIED RIDGE IS BUILDING OVER UTAH
TODAY. NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT THIS AFTERNOON WILL HELP WITH MIXING.
FAIR CATEGORY SMOKE DISPERSAL WILL LAST THROUGH 1600 HOURS OR SO THIS
AFTERNOON.

SATURDAY...THE NEXT PACIFIC LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DIGS FROM
NORTHWEST THROUGH SOUTHEAST THROUGH NEVADA. THIS SHIFTS THE RIDGE
AXIS ONTO THE HIGH PLAINS BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. FOR THE BURN
SITE...INCREASING CLOUDS AND RELATIVELY LIGHT SOUTHWEST FLOW
ALOFT IN A STABLE AIR MASS WILL LIMIT MIXING.

THE LOW IS DESTINED TO DIG SOUTH AND WEST OF THE FOUR CORNERS AND
MAY BRING SOME LIGHT SHOWERS (AND BETTER MIXING) TO THE VAIL AREA
SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT.

.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....34-39 F.
WIND (20 FT)........SOUTHWEST WINDS 2-5 MPH AT IGNITION...SHIFTING TO
                    WEST 3-8 MPH AFTER NOON.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR UNTIL NOON...THEN FAIR.
MIXING HEIGHT.......1800 FT AGL INCREASING TO 3500 FT AGL BY NOON.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST 12 MPH.

.SATURDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING WITH INCREASING
                    AFTERNOON CLOUDS.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....39-44 F.
WIND (20 FT)........SOUTHWEST 2-6 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR (MAX OF 36000 KNOT-FT).
MIXING HEIGHT.......2000 FT AGL INCREASING TO 3000 FT AGL IN
                    THE AFTERNOON.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST 12 MPH.

$$
FORECASTER...JOE RAMEY
REQUESTED BY...ROB MCDONALD
TYPE OF REQUEST...PRESCRIBED
.TAG 20100312.WESTV.04/GJT