An air quality alert remains in place for several Western Colorado counties, with wildfire smoke expected to worsen before conditions improve later this week.

Air Quality Alert in Effect

Residents in Garfield, Pitkin, Gunnison, Dolores, Rio Blanco, and Eagle counties remain under an Air Quality Health Advisory until at least 9 a.m. Tuesday. Officials say the advisory will likely be extended and may expand to cover more areas if conditions deteriorate.

Around Grand Junction, current air quality is considered “moderate,” but the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment warns it could reach “unhealthy” levels at times. That would especially impact sensitive groups, including children, older adults, and people with respiratory issues.

Tracking the Smoke

Heavy smoke from wildfires burning southwest of Meeker is drifting south into Garfield County, affecting areas like Parachute and Rifle, before moving into Mesa County near Collbran. By late Monday evening, a wind shift will push smoke westward into Grand Junction, continuing overnight and into Tuesday morning.

Forecasters say the Highway 50 corridor from Delta to Montrose may also see increased smoke, with the heaviest concentrations settling in valleys during the night and early morning hours. While daytime mixing can lift some of the smoke higher into the atmosphere, pockets of poor air quality may persist into Wednesday.

Health Precautions Recommended

Officials recommend limiting outdoor activity when smoke levels rise, especially for those with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions. Closing windows, using air purifiers, and wearing N95 masks outdoors during high-smoke periods can help reduce exposure.

Weather Shift May Bring Relief

The first half of the week will remain hot, with highs in the mid-to-upper 90s through Thursday. But by Friday, temperatures are expected to drop into the upper 80s and lower 90s as humidity increases.

Higher dewpoints — a more direct measure of atmospheric moisture — will make the air feel more humid, climbing from the teens and 20s typical of the region to the 40s and lower 50s by Friday and Saturday. That added humidity could hinder the performance of evaporative coolers, a common home cooling method in the area.

Short-Lived Change

The shift to cooler, more humid conditions is expected to be brief. By Sunday and Monday, drier air will return, bringing cooler mornings, warmer afternoons, and improved air quality — provided wildfire activity and wind patterns cooperate.