A strong ridge of high pressure will build over the Rockies this weekend and into early next week, resulting in a multi-day heat wave with record highs likely across a large portion of the West.

Meanwhile, a trough of low pressure will remain just off of the West Coast, resulting in several days of wet weather for the Cascades and Pacific Northwest.

Wildfire and Smoke Update

Numerous wildfires have started during the past week across Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. The Pack Creek Fire in the La Sal Mountains near Moab just started on Wednesday and is sending lots of smoke downwind into Colorado. 

Near Surface Forecast Smoke Map

Upper Atmosphere Forecast Smoke Map

Forecast for Friday, June 11

Friday is shaping up to be the most pleasant day across the Rockies and Intermountain West, at least for areas not being impacted by smoke and wildfires. Temperatures are a bit more comfortable compared to recent (and future) days. 

The Cascades and West Coast will see rain through most of Friday with some of the heavier amounts expected across Southern Oregon/far Northern California, and also over the Olympic Peninsula. Showers will arrive over Eastern Oregon/Washington and Northern Idaho on Friday night. 

Forecast for Saturday, June 12

Temperatures will start to heat up across the Rockies and Intermountain Regions while a cool and wet pattern will persist over the Northwest. The Cascades, West Coast, and Idaho Panhandle/NW Montana will continue to see showers with drier conditions persisting farther south.

The eastern slopes of the Sangre de Christo and Wet Mountains in Southern Colorado and New Mexico could see some thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon, but most of the activity should remain east on the plains.

Forecast for Sunday, June 13

An extended heatwave will really begin to take shape across the West on Sunday with record highs likely falling across the Central and Northern Rockies especially. 

The West Coast and Cascades in Oregon and Washington will continue to get hit with more rain, while most other areas will be dry and hot. Isolated thunderstorms can be expected along and east of the Continental Divide in Colorado and New Mexico on Sunday afternoon, as well as the Wallowas and Bitterroots in the Northern Rockies.

Forecast for Monday, June 14

Monday is looking even hotter than Sunday across the Intermountain West with more record highs expected. 

Showers will continue over the Pacific Northwest as well on Monday, similar to recent days. Isolated thunderstorm chances will also persist along and east of the Continental Divide in the Southern Rockies.

Forecast for Tuesday, June 15

Unseasonably hot conditions will persist across the Rockies and Intermountain West on Tuesday, while the Pacific Northwest will see a surge of cooler air arrive and will remain outside the grips of the heat wave. 

The stubborn pattern will continue to slam the Pacific Northwest with showers and wetter than typical conditions for June, with much hotter and drier conditions elsewhere. A slight increase in moisture could result in higher coverage of thunderstorms near the Continental Divide in Colorado and New Mexico compared to prior days, but rain amounts will be light. 

Outlook for Wednesday, June 16 – Sunday, June 20

High pressure and well-above-average warmth will persist during the second half of next week and will further expand west into California. The Pacific Northwest will finally start to dry out during this time and will also see a trend toward above-average temperatures.

Rain chances will remain marginal across most of the Rockies, except for areas along and east of the Continental Divide who will see enough moisture arrive from the east and south for isolated thunderstorms from time to time. The desert regions in Arizona/New Mexico west of the Divide could see some isolated storms as well, though significant rainfall is not expected.

Thanks so much for reading and check back for my next forecast on Monday, June 14th!

ALAN SMITH

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