Rain Chances Bring Hope—& New Dangers—Across Fire-Scarred Colorado
Grand Junction and Western Colorado are no strangers to scorching-hot summer temps, but persistent drought conditions have made this summer feel "dangerous" to say the least.
Aside from that large hailstorm in early June, I can't even remember the last time we saw any significant rain in Grand Junction. Rain is finally back in the forecast for the Western Slope this week, and wildland firefighters and residents alike are thankful.
Monsoon Skips the Region—Until Now
The 2025 monsoon season has skirted Western Colorado for most of the summer. It has not delivered the rainfall we count on, but it has created the right conditions for lightning and dry thunderstorms. The National Weather Service forecasts rain in parts of Western Colorado for the next five days. If it rains, it will help lower temperatures and aid our wildland firefighters working in Unaweep Canyon, at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Meeker, and in the Flat Tops Wilderness.
- Grand Junction: Monday - ⛈ Thunderstorms (90%), High 88.
- Grand Junction: Tuesday - ⛈ Thunderstorms (80%), High 86.
- Grand Junction: Wednesday -☔ Showers likely, High 80
- Grand Junction: Thursday - ☔ Showers likely, High 83
- Grand Junction: Friday - ☔ Showers likely, High 84
Where the Fires Are Burning
Read More: Current Status: Colorado's Derby Wildfire Threatening Sweetwater
The Turner Gulch wildfire (see map here) in western Mesa County started on July 10 near the city of Gateway, Colorado. Lightning strikes in Unaweep Canyon started both the Turner Gulch fire (31,699 acres) and the Wright Draw fire (466 acres) last month, requiring resources from communities throughout the western slope to protect Gateway, our local ranchers, and the Uncompahgre National Forest. As of August 23, the fire was 88% contained. By August 25, the fire was reported to be 96% contained.
Evacuations and Fire Restrictions
The Turner Gulch fire closed Highway 141 for several days in July, and several mandatory evacuations are still in place for Big Creek and Divide Forks Campground zones, while Ute Creek and Cold Springs are in pre-evacuation status. Mesa County declared local disaster status on July 22 to unlock emergency resources.
Stay Weather and Wildfire Aware
Western Colorado knows large wildfires leave behind a burn scar that can cause flash flooding. While the rain in the forecast can help with temperatures and fire activity, the rain we could get could be just as dangerous as the wildfire for some areas.
I'm thankful Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 3 is still with us, along with the BLM and U.S. Forest Service. We also want to thank our firefighters and all the volunteers. Stay updated with our free station app and enable notifications to see wildfire updates.
NEXT: 10 Tips to Prevent Wildfires from the US Department of Interior
Gallery Credit: ASHLEY SOLLARS
MORE: How to Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke
Gallery Credit: Unsplash/TSM