NWS: Gusty winds, low humidity and dry fuels trigger red flag warnings and fire weather watches

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National Weather Service

Fire Weather Watch

URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
244 PM MDT Thu Apr 24 2025

Lower Colorado River-Colorado River Headwaters-
244 PM MDT Thu Apr 24 2025

…RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 203 AND 205 BELOW 7000 FEET…FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 203 AND 205 BELOW 7000 FEET…
…FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 203 AND 205 BELOW 7000 FEET…

The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a Fire Weather Watch for gusty winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels, which is in effect from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect from noon to 8 PM Friday and a Fire Weather Watch remains in effect Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening.

* AFFECTED AREA…In Colorado, Fire Weather Zone 203 Lower Colorado River and Fire Weather Zone 205 Colorado River Headwaters below 7000 feet.

* TIMING…For the Red Flag Warning, from noon to 8 PM MDT Friday. For the first Fire Weather Watch, from Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening. For the second Fire Weather Watch, from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening.

* WINDS…For Friday and Saturday, south 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 40 mph. For Sunday south 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…8 to 13 percent.

* IMPACTS…Fires will catch and spread quickly. Exercise extreme caution with any outdoor burning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
248 AM MDT Thu Apr 24 2025

Lower Yampa River Basin-Central Yampa River Basin-
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus-Elkhead and Park Mountains-
Upper Yampa River Basin-Grand Valley-Debeque to Silt Corridor-
Central Colorado River Basin-Grand and Battlement Mesas-
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys-
Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin-
West Elk and Sawatch Mountains-Flat Tops-Upper Gunnison River Valley-
Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide-Northwest San Juan Mountains-
Southwest San Juan Mountains-Paradox Valley/Lower Dolores River-
Four Corners/Upper Dolores River-Animas River Basin-
San Juan River Basin-Southeast Utah-Eastern Uinta Mountains-
Eastern Uinta Basin-Tavaputs Plateau-Arches/Grand Flat-
La Sal and Abajo Mountains-Canyonlands/Natural Bridges-
248 AM MDT Thu Apr 24 2025

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Colorado, southwest Colorado, west central Colorado, east central Utah, northeast Utah and southeast Utah.

.DAY ONE…Today and tonight.

A weak disturbance will cause scattered showers and a few thunderstorms to fire this afternoon. Northeast Utah and Northwest Colorado will have the best chances to see this convection. Gusty outflow winds will be the main concern.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Friday through Wednesday.

Gusty surface winds of 25 to 35 mph, if not higher at times, are expected each afternoon from Friday through the weekend. Low afternoon relative humidities and dry fuels will allow critical fire weather conditions to occur Friday afternoon. Red Flag Warnings have been issued for those fire zones where these conditions will be met.

Similar conditions are possible Saturday. Fire Weather Watches have been issued to account for this possibility.

SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…

Spotter activation is not expected today or tonight, however spotters are encouraged to report excessive wind or any observed wind related damage to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.

NWS: Gusty winds, low humidity and dry fuels trigger red flag warnings and fire weather watches

GarCo911: Eastbound I-70 is open at Glenwood Springs

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Colorado Department of Transportation

Map showing the location of eastbound Interstate 70 closure near Glenwood Springs.

April 24, 2025, 10:10 a.m. – Interstate 70 eastbound lanes are closed near Glenwood Springs with detours in place for commuters. It is not known when the interstate will open for eastbound travelers. At approximately 8 a.m. a commercial vehicle hauling cattle crashed onto its side and blocked both eastbound lanes of traffic near Mile Point 116, just west of the Grand Avenue exit. For local traffic, I-70 eastbound remains open up to Exit 114, West Glenwood. Colorado Department of Transportation, Glenwood Springs Police, and other first responder agencies are on the scene.

Commuters are urged to proceed with caution along the detour routes listed below.

Northern alternate route

To use the northern alternate route, eastbound commuters will take Colorado Highway 13 in Rifle north to Craig. In Craig, turn east on US highway 40 to Steamboat Springs. Just outside of Steamboat Springs, take either CO 131 south and back on to I70 or US 40 and continue east. 

Southern alternate route

To use the southern alternate route, eastbound motorists from the Grand Junction area can travel on US 50 US 285 through Gunnison, and continue to Denver and areas nearby. Note: Cottonwood Pass on CO 306 is still closed for the season and not a viable alternative route.

Glenwood Springs Police Department

April 24, 2025, 9:31 a.m. – Glenwood Springs Police Department: Exit 114 is open.
Exit 116, all lanes remain closed due to an accident involving a semi carrying cattle. No estimated time of reopening. Detour in place north via Rifle CO-13 to Craig US-40 & South Clifton/Montrose US-50 to Leadville US-24.

Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

April 24, 2025, 2:13 p.m. – Eastbound I-70 is open at Glenwood Springs.

April 24, 2025, 9:40 a.m. – Eastbound Interstate 70 remains closed at mile marker 114, West Glenwood exit, and has moved back to eastbound mile marker 116, the main Glenwood Springs exit.

April 24, 2025, 8:08 a.m. – Eastbound Interstate 70 is closed at mile marker 114, West Glenwood exit, due to an accident.

GarCo911: Eastbound I-70 is open at Glenwood Springs

Garco911: I-70 open in Glenwood Canyon

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Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

4.22.25, 2:12 p.m. – I-70 is open at Glenwood Springs. Both eastbound lanes are open and one westbound lane.

4.22.25, 1:41 p.m. – Eastbound I-70 is open at Glenwood Springs. Only eastbound lanes are open at this time.

4.22.25, 12:06 p.m. – Road closed: I-70 is closed between mile markers 116-133, both directions, Glenwood Springs to Dotsero, due to an accident.

Garco911: I-70 open in Glenwood Canyon

Garco911 and CDOT: I-70 eastbound reopened after rockslide in Glenwood Canyon

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Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

4.4.25, 6:09 am: I-70 is open at 116 eastbound, main Glenwood Springs exit.

Colorado Department of Transportation

4.3.25, 11:13 pm: Between Exit 114: West Glenwood (Glenwood Springs) and Exit 129: Bair Ranch (6 miles west of Dotsero) from Mile Point 116 to Mile Point 126.5. Road closed – expect delays due to a rock slide.

Comment: This will be an extended closure.

4.3.25, 10:25 pm: Between Exit 114: West Glenwood (Glenwood Springs) and Exit 129: Bair Ranch (6 miles west of Dotsero) from Mile Point 116 to Mile Point 126.5. Road closed – expect delays due to a rock slide. CDOT will post updates at cotrip.org.

Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

4.3.25, 10:10 pm: I-70 is closed at mile marker 116 eastbound, Glenwood Springs, due to a rock slide in Glenwood Canyon.

Garco911 and CDOT: I-70 eastbound reopened after rockslide in Glenwood Canyon

Garco911 and CDOT: I-70 eastbound closed for rockslide in Glenwood Canyon

gccomms

Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

4.4.25, 6:09 am: I-70 is open at 116 eastbound, main Glenwood Springs exit.

Colorado Department of Transportation

4.3.25, 11:13 pm: Between Exit 114: West Glenwood (Glenwood Springs) and Exit 129: Bair Ranch (6 miles west of Dotsero) from Mile Point 116 to Mile Point 126.5. Road closed – expect delays due to a rock slide.

Comment: This will be an extended closure.

4.3.25, 10:25 pm: Between Exit 114: West Glenwood (Glenwood Springs) and Exit 129: Bair Ranch (6 miles west of Dotsero) from Mile Point 116 to Mile Point 126.5. Road closed – expect delays due to a rock slide. CDOT posts all updates at cotrip.org.

Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

4.3.25, 10:10 pm: I-70 is closed at mile marker 116 eastbound, Glenwood Springs, due to a rock slide in Glenwood Canyon.

Garco911 and CDOT: I-70 eastbound closed for rockslide in Glenwood Canyon

GarCo911: Westbound I-70 reopened at Glenwood Springs, mile marker 114

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Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

March 25, 2025, 4:46 p.m. – Interstate 70 is open at mile marker 114, westbound, West Glenwood Springs.

March 25, 2025, 4:40 p.m. – Interstate 70 is closed at mile marker 114, westbound, West Glenwood Springs, due to an accident. This is Wed, 4.9.25.

GarCo911: Westbound I-70 reopened at Glenwood Springs, mile marker 114

GarCo911: Westbound I-70 open Hanging Lake to Grizzly Creek following accident

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Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

March 14, 2025, 4:04 p.m. – Westbound Interstate 70 is open in one lane from mile markers 122-126, Hanging Lake to Grizzly Creek, due to an accident.

March 14, 2025, 3:29 p.m. – Westbound Interstate 70 is closed from mile markers 122-126, Hanging Lake to Grizzly Creek, due to an accident.

GarCo911: Westbound I-70 open Hanging Lake to Grizzly Creek following accident