Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Raymer (New Raymer), CO

DISCUSSION /Through Sunday/
Issued at 1028 PM MDT Sun Apr 19 2026

No significant changes were made to this forecast package, as the general synoptic pattern remains largely unchanged. Upper-level ridging will keep warm and dry conditions in place over the forecast area through mid-week, with widespread critical fire weather conditions expected for Wednesday afternoon and evening when gusty southwest winds are expected ahead of our next upper- level disturbance, and likely persisting into Thursday. Only subtle differences are noted in the latest guidance outputs, keeping higher confidence in the current forecast. While no significant precipitation events are on the horizon, a more active pattern looks to persist through the forecast period, with a few shots at some mountain snow and rain for the plains.

This evening's upper-air maps show the upper-level ridge axis is now situated along the spine of the Rocky Mountains. This feature will be responsible for a few days of warming temperatures and tranquil weather across the forecast area as it remains overhead through Tuesday. Under the ridge, warmer temperatures are expected each day as 700 mb temperatures gradually warm by a few deg C through Tuesday, maintaining for Wednesday afternoon, and cooling significantly Wednesday night. Afternoon highs will warm into the upper 70s and low 80s across the plains on Monday, with our mountain valleys seeing highs in the 60s. Temps will be slightly warmer on Tuesday, and max out on Wednesday as downslope winds strengthen due to a deepening lee surface trough. Some locations will see afternoon highs 12F to 25F above seasonal norms. A cold front is expected on Wednesday night that will bring temperatures back to near seasonal norms for Thursday, and the cooler temps are expected to stick around through the weekend, likely dropping to below seasonal norms.

By Tuesday night, southwesterly flow aloft will increase as an upper- level trough quickly approaches the Intermountain West and pushes the ridge to our east. This will set us up for some significant fire weather conditions developing for Wednesday as gusty southwest winds are expected to mix down to the surface where very low relative humidity values will be in place.
Widespread 30 to 40 mph wind gusts are likely across the forecast area where single digit RH is expected across the plains, and low teens across the foothills and mountain valleys. While moisture is expected to increase across the northern mountain valleys through the evening, the plains and South Park won't see any significant RH recoveries overnight (only 30- 40%), and highlights may be needed through late Wednesday night as winds stay elevated as pressure gradients become tightest in the evening hours. See more in Fire Weather Discussion below. With the poor RH recoveries overnight, elevated to critical fire weather conditions will likely persist into Thursday as winds remain elevated.

Light precipitation chances will be possible Wednesday night as the trough pulls some mid-level Pacific moisture into the mountains, but the plains will be battling downslope drying that will limit precip to the high country. Persistent precip chances look likely into the weekend as an upper-level low meanders about across the northern tier, with multiple smaller scale disturbances keeping elevated Pacific moisture flowing into Colorado.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday/
Issued at 1129 PM MDT Sun Apr 19 2026

VFR conditions will continue. Drainage winds overnight will become light and variable by 16z. Winds by 19z will become light east and then shift to light southeast after 02z.

FIRE WEATHER
Issued at 1028 PM MDT Sun Apr 19 2026

High confidence in significant fire weather conditions developing Wednesday as gusty southwest winds are expected to mix down to the surface where very low relative humidity values will be in place. Widespread 30 to 40 mph wind gusts are likely across the forecast area where single digit RH is expected across the plains, and low teens across the foothills and mountain valleys. While moisture is expected to increase across the northern mountain valleys through the evening, the plains and South Park won't see any significant RH recoveries overnight (only 30- 40%), and highlights may be needed through late Wednesday night as winds stay elevated as pressure gradients become tightest in the evening hours. With the poor RH recoveries overnight, elevated to critical fire weather conditions will likely persist into Thursday as winds remain elevated, mainly for South Park, the foothills, and the plains where RH will range from 10 to 15% coinciding with gusty northwest winds ranging from 30-45 mph.

BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
None.