FNUS75 KGJT 081129
FWSGJT

SPOT FORECAST FOR WEST MTN...USFS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
429 AM MST WED FEB 8 2012

FORECAST IS BASED ON IGNITION TIME OF 1000 MST ON FEBRUARY 08.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...
THE NEXT WEATHER SYSTEM TO AFFECT WESTERN COLORADO WILL BE DROPPING
INTO THE GREAT BASIN THIS AFTERNOON. ISOLATED SHOWER DEVELOPMENT THIS
AFTERNOON SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO PUSH MIXING HEIGHTS UP TO THE FAIR
CATEGORY. THE SNOW WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD OVERNIGHT AS THE
SYSTEM PASSES THROUGH THE 4 CORNERS REGION. THE COOLER AIR ARRIVING
ALOFT AS THE SYTEM PASSES THROUGH ON THURSDAY WILL BRING IN A BIT
MORE INSTABILITY AND PUSH MIXING HEIGHTS BACK TO NEAR 5500 FT AGL.
HOWEVER WINDS WILL BE DROPPING OFF THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. SOME LOW
END FAIR CONDITIONS LOOK POSSIBLE FOR A FEW HOURS...WITH A DECREASE
IN SHOWER ACTIVITY EXPECTED THROUGH THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON
HOURS.

.TODAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY (50-60%) THEN BECOMING MOSTLY
                    CLOUDY (70-80%). ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS IN THE
                    AFTERNOON.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....NEAR 28 F.
20-FOOT WINDS.......DOWNSLOPE/DOWNVALLEY 5 TO 8 MPH THROUGH MID
                    MORNING WITH RIDGETOP WINDS BECOMING WEST AT
                    10 TO 20 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR THROUGH LATE MORNING THEN INCREASING TO
                    FAIR THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON.
MIXING HEIGHT.......1000 FT AGL...LIFTING TO NEAR 5500 FT AGL
                    IN THE AFTERNOON.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....WEST 25 MPH.

.TONIGHT...

20-FOOT WINDS.......RIDGETOP WINDS WEST AT 13 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH
                    DECREASING TO 5 MPH IN THE LATE EVENING AND BECOMING
                    TERRAIN DRIVEN.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR.
MIXING HEIGHT.......1000-2400 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....WEST 24 MPH EARLY...THEN 8 MPH OR LESS.

.THURSDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY (70-80%) THEN BECOMING PARTLY
                    CLOUDY (50-60%). SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS IN THE
                    MORNING...THEN ISOLATED IN THE AFTERNOON.
20-FOOT WINDS.......WINDS MAINLY TERRAIN DRIVEN...THOUGH CONVECTIVE
                    SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON MAY LEAD TO ERRATIC
                    WINDS.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR...WITH A FEW HOURS OF FAIR IN THE AFTERNOON.
MIXING HEIGHT.......1000-2400 FT AGL INCREASING TO 5500 FT AGL IN
                    THE AFTERNOON.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST 10 MPH.

$$
FORECASTER...DENNIS PHILLIPS
REQUESTED BY...MIFMU
TYPE OF REQUEST...PRESCRIBED
.TAG 20120208.WESTM.01/GJT