FNUS75 KGJT 231652
FWSGJT

SPOT FORECAST FOR BIGHORN...CSFS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1052 AM MDT FRI SEP 23 2011

FORECAST IS BASED ON IGNITION TIME OF 1040 MDT ON SEPTEMBER 23.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE STRENGTHENING AS IT SHIFTS INTO THE GREAT BASIN
TODAY. THIS WILL KEEP THE STORM TRACK WELL NORTH OF THE AREA
RESULTING IN DRY CONDITIONS THROUGH SATURDAY. HOWEVER LIGHT WINDS
UNDER THIS RIDGE WILL BE PROBLEMATIC FOR SMOKE DISPERSAL AS THE
SUBSIDENCE INVERSION ALOFT WILL REMAIN STRONG. FAIR SMOKE DISPERSAL
WILL RESULT AS TEMPERATURES PUSH INTO THE MID AND UPPER 70S OVER
THE NEXT FEW AFTERNOONS BUT WILL BE POOR THROUGH LATE MORNING AND
BY SUNSET. WINDS WILL GENERALLY BE TERRAIN DRIVEN BUT NORTHERLY
FLOW ALOFT SHOULD BRING DOWN NORTHERLY SURFACE WINDS DURING PEAK
MIXING.

.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........SUNNY (0-10%).
MAX TEMPERATURE.....76-81 F.
MIN HUMIDITY........13-18%.
20-FOOT WINDS.......DOWNSLOPE WINDS NEAR 5 MPH OR LESS BECOMING
                    NORTHWEST AT 5 TO 10 MPH IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR THROUGH LATE MORNING INCREASING TO FAIR
                    BY MID AFTERNOON.
HAINES INDEX........4 LOW.
MIXING HEIGHT.......2000 FT AGL OR LESS THROUGH THE LATE MORNING
                    THEN INCREASING TO 9100 FT AGL BY MID AFTERNOON.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHEAST NEAR 10 MPH.

.TONIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........CLEAR (0-10%).
MIN TEMPERATURE.....40 TO 45 F.
MAX HUMIDITY........50-55%.
20-FOOT WINDS.......NORTH WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH IN THE EARLY EVENING
                    BECOMING DOWNSLOPE AT 3 TO 8 MPH AROUND SUNSET.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....FAIR THROUGH EARLY EVENING THEN QUICKLY DROPPING
                    TO POOR.
HAINES INDEX........5 MODERATE.
MIXING HEIGHT.......5100 FT AGL DECREASING TO LESS THAN 1000 FT AGL
                    IN THE LATE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHEAST 5 TO 7 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH AFTER
                    MIDNIGHT.

.SATURDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........SUNNY (0-10%).
MAX TEMPERATURE.....NEAR 77 F.
MIN HUMIDITY........15-20%.
20-FOOT WINDS.......DOWNSLOPE WINDS AT AROUND 5 MPH THROUGH LATE
                    MORNING...BECOMING NORTHWEST 10 MPH OR LESS
                    IN THE AFTERNOON.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR THROUGH LATE MORNING...INCREASING TO FAIR
                    IN THE AFTERNOON.
HAINES INDEX........5 MODERATE.
MIXING HEIGHT.......2000 FT AGL OR LESS IN THE MORNING...INCREASING
                    TO 7800 FT AGL BY MID AFTERNOON.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....WEST 5 MPH.

$$
FORECASTER...DENNIS PHILLIPS
REQUESTED BY...STEVE ELLIS
TYPE OF REQUEST...PRESCRIBED
.TAG 20110923.BIGHO.01/GJT