FNUS75 KGJT 100510
FWSGJT

SPOT FORECAST FOR INDEPENDENCE...USFS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1010 PM MST SUN DEC 9 2012

FORECAST IS BASED ON IGNITION TIME OF 1100 MST ON DECEMBER 10.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

.DISCUSSION...
A COLD START TO THE DAY UNDER MAINLY CLEAR SKIES WILL GIVE WAY TO
GRADUALLY INCREASING CLOUDS AS THE NEXT SYSTEM QUICKLY DROPS
THROUGH ON NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. COLD AIR ALOFT ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS WAVE WILL HELP SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS DEVELOP THIS
AFTERNOON WITH WHAT LIMITED MOISTURE COMES WITH THE SYSTEM. THIS
INSTABILITY WILL ALSO HELP PUSH SMOKE DISPERSAL INTO THE GOOD
CATEGORY BY MID AFTERNOON WITH SOME GUSTY WINDS POSSIBLE NEAR
SHOWERS. THE SYSTEM WILL PASS OVER THE DIVIDE REGION OVERNIGHT
WITH WARMING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED ALOFT ON TUESDAY. THIS WILL
LIMIT THE INSTABILITY AND SMOKE DISPERSAL ON BY THE AFTERNOON.
HOWEVER WINDS BEHIND THIS SYSTEM LOOK STRONG ENOUGH TO BRING
FAIR CONDITIONS BY THE AFTERNOON.

.MONDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........PARTLY CLOUDY (50-60%) THROUGH MID MORNING THEN
                    BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY (70-80%). SCATTERED SNOW
                    SHOWERS DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON.
20-FOOT WINDS.......DOWN VALLEY AT 5 TO 7 MPH THROUGH 1000 THEN BECOMING
                    WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH WITH A FEW GUSTS NEAR 25 MPH
                    IN SNOW SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR THROUGH MID MORNING THEN INCREASING TO GOOD
                    BY EARLY AFTERNOON.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST 30 MPH.

.MONDAY NIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY (60-70%). SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS
                    IN THE EVENING...THEN ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS
                    AFTER MIDNIGHT.
20-FOOT WINDS.......NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND 13 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND
                    25 MPH EARLY IN THE MORNING THEN BECOMING DOWNSLOPE
                    DOWNVALLEY AT 5 TO 7 MPH.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST 27 MPH THROUGH 0300 THEN TERRAIN DRIVEN.

.TUESDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE MORNING (60-70%) THEN BECOMING
                    PARTLY CLOUDY (50-60%) IN THE AFTERNOON.
20-FOOT WINDS.......TERRAIN DRIVEN WINDS THROUGH 1000 THEN INCREASING
                    FROM THE WEST AT 15 TO 20 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH
                    IN THE AFTERNOON.
SMOKE DISPERSAL.....POOR THROUGH LATE MORNING THEN BECOMING FAIR
                    BY MID AFTERNOON.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....NORTHWEST 30 MPH.

$$
FORECASTER...DENNIS PHILLIPS
REQUESTED BY...ARTHUR HAINES
TYPE OF REQUEST...PRESCRIBED
.TAG 20121210.INDEP.01/GJT