For 8/7/09: The moisture lifting into our area from the southwest has just about cleared the area and a dry slot will settle in the west that will offer clear and sunny conditions through the weekend and into next week. This pattern shift will offer drier air and cooler temperatures that will limit the convective activity with mostly sunny conditions dominating.

Overnight lows stayed warm through most of the night while the cloud cover held but clearer conditions through the morning hours allowed Crested Butte to drop to 40 degrees while Gunnison hit 44. Daytime highs should hold right around 70 degrees for the higher elevations and in the mid to high 70’s for the lower valleys. Clear skies and a cooler flow out of the northwest will allow for lows dropping back to the 30’s for Crested Butte and low 40’s for Gunnison tonight.

Residual moisture from the wetter pattern we have seen will mean possible fuel for thundershowers over the higher terrain today but this will be the last gasp of that pattern. Look for drier air settling into the west to offer sunny skies for the weekend and into next week. Gusting winds will remain for today but should relax into the weekend. It looks like beautiful conditions should dominate through the extended forecast so make some plans and get outside.

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