During this dry and warm period, it’s nice to see a cumulonimbus cloud dropping a few raindrops on our mountains! – pic taken 8/6/2026
Friday – 7 Aug 2026 – 3:15pm
The past…
Stevens Field Observations
Wednesday: High: 90, Low: 52, Peak wind: 28mph, Afternoon humidity: 9-14%
Thursday: High: *92*, Low: 48, Peak wind: 22mph, Afternoon humidity: 9-13%
* New record high. Previous record high was 91 set in 1981.*
| Average High | Record High / Year | Average Low | Record Low / Year |
| 82 | 94 / 1991 | 45 | 32 / 1911 |
Precipitation summary… There has been no measurable precip in the last two days.
Current satellite, radar, and smoke…
The Elk Fire, north of Lake City CO, grew an additional 2,000 acres yesterday and put out a large plume of smoke that moved our way. Plus the Widemouth fire in western UT continues to put a lot of smoke that has moved over much of the Four Corners region.
Forecast highlights…
*** Fire danger remains high. Warm, breezy afternoons have dried things out. The San Juan National Forest and Archuleta County are under stage 1 fire restrictions. ***
*** Near record warmth will continue through the weekend. A spotty storm or two is possible each afternoon and evening. Most of us will stay dry. ***
*** Starting Monday and through the rest of next week, there will be hit and miss storms each afternoon and evening. Some storms will be soakers. Do your rain dances! ***
*** Rio Blanco Fire… Thanks to the efforts of everyone tackling the fire, containment is 55% and property owners are allowed access! For the most current information follow Archuleta County, CO Sheriff’s Office or Rio Blanco Fire on Facebook or Watch Duty. ***
Saturday and Sunday… The monsoon continues to be on hiatus. It’s dry with near record warmth and moderate instability. There is a slight chance for a spotty storm each afternoon and evening, mostly over the mountains. Most of us will stay dry.
Monday through the rest of next week… The subtropical high will finally move to our east – where we want it! Monsoon moisture and instability will increase. There will be scattered storms each afternoon and evening.
Storms will be capable of producing heavy rain, small hail, gusty winds, poor visibility, and lightning over small areas for short periods.
Temps…
Friday night lows will be near 50 to the mid 50s.
Saturday and Sunday highs will be in the high 80s to mid 90s and lows will be near 50 to the high 50s.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday highs will be in the mid 80s to the low 90s and lows will be in the low to high 50s.
Thursday through next weekend highs will be in the high 70s to the mid 80s and lows will be in the low to high 50s.
Winds…
Each afternoon gusts will be around 20mph though isolated stronger gusts are likely near showers and thunderstorms.
This is from scattered storms starting Monday. Any single storm will be capable of producing heavy rain over a small area.
14 Aug to 22 Aug… The subtropical high will slowly migrate from the south-central plains to eastern NM. This keeps us on the more favorable west side of the high with monsoon moisture and instability. Scattered storms will be possible each afternoon and evening.
It’s mostly dry through the weekend. Storm activity starts increasing Monday, peaks around next Friday, and then decreases a little through the rest of the period.
The next post will be Sunday afternoon.
– Shawn
