craigdailypress.com

Craig set record temperatures Sunday and Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

The thermometer reached 96 degrees Fahr--enheit on Sun--day and 97 on Monday, which are record temperatures for July.

In addition to record highs for those specific dates, Monday's temperature of 97 degrees is the third highest for July since 1977.

With such high temperatures, many Craig residents are finding ways to keep cool, even if it means braving the hot weather to go to the pool.

Sylvia Griffiths, the aquatics manager for the Craig Swimming Complex, said there were a lot of swimmers who came through the doors Sunday.

Lynnette Koran had her own pool set up in her front yard.

Koran said that she got the pool out for her children and their friends to use because it's been so hot.

"They've been playing in it (all summer)," she said.

Joe Ramey, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Grand Junction, said the high temperatures are going to stick around.

"The culprit for these high temperatures is a big mountain of high pressure," he said. "It has been sitting over the (western part of Colorado) for the past five days."

Ramey added that the high-pressure system will be "wobbling" to the east during the next week, but hot days are still in Moffat County's future.

"We still (predict) harsh temperatures will be above normal," Ramey said, "but probably not record temperatures."

Craig received 0.36 inches of rain July 7 to 10, and residents can look forward to more toward the end of the week, maybe.

"There is a fairly large disturbance forecasted for Friday," Ramey said.

He added that it's still uncertain, but Moffat County could see some rain because of a system moving west from the mountains.

"Chances have increased for localized but heavy showers," Ramey said.

Dominic Graziano can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 209, or dgraziano@craigdailypress.com.