textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- An incoming pattern shift brings cooler temperatures, valley rain, and mountain snow above 9000 feet this evening through Wednesday night.

- Winter Weather Advisories are in effect from 6PM today through 9PM Wednesday for the Colorado Divide ranges above 9000 feet with bursts of accumulating snow likely.

- Another low pressure system moves through on Friday before high pressure builds back in over the weekend.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1021 PM MDT Mon Mar 30 2026

COOLER AND WET WEATHER INCOMING:

A weak trough is currently passing over the Northern Plains. While the trough itself will remain well to our north, its attendant cold front will sag southward through the Great Basin bringing a burst of moisture and cooler temperatures. Meanwhile, another trough moves toward the West Coast, turning flow over eastern Utah and western Colorado more southwesterly. This allows us to tap into some remnant AR moisture from the southwest. PWATs of 200-250% of normal will completely overspread the region by Tuesday evening, beginning first as clouds as the atmosphere saturates down to the surface. The increased cloud cover and marginal cool air advection will cool temperatures down to around 10 degrees above normal tomorrow.

Precipitation will fill in throughout the evening before becoming widespread overnight. Valleys can expect all rain from this system, while elevations above 9,000 feet will see accumulating snowfall. The peak of this storm will be late Tuesday night through Wednesday morning as the cold front moves through and the West Coast trough tracks overhead. This could create a messy morning commute over the mountains, particularly for Rabbit Ears Pass, Vail Pass, and along Highway 550. There is still some uncertainty over snow totals due to the very, very warm antecedent conditions and the general lack of a snowpack impacting how much snowfall accumulates versus quickly melts. But the general model consensus is 6-12 inches of fresh snow for the ranges along the Colorado Divide. Winter Weather Advisories have been issued from Tuesday evening through Wednesday night. Eastern Utah ranges, including the eastern Uintas and La Sals, will see lesser amounts, generally 4-8 inches of snow. With the much cooler airmass and widespread clouds and precipitation on Wednesday, temperatures are expected to cool to around 5 degrees below normal for early April.

LOOKING AHEAD:

Precipitation should taper off Thursday as transient ridging builds in between the departing trough and the next system moving into the Pacific Northwest. Seasonal temperatures return during this period but are not likely to last. There is high model confidence for a second, late week system bringing another substantial cool down. Blended guidance drops temperatures to 5-10 degrees below early April climo for Friday and Saturday. Confidence on precipitation remains low, although model agreement is gradually improving. Valley rain and valley snow will be possible, with current guidance favoring the northeastern Utah and western Colorado. Breezy conditions are likely through the entire week.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 538 AM MDT Tue Mar 31 2026

Unsettled weather moving in will result in BKN to OVC skies to start the morning and throughout the TAF period with CIGS gradually lowering through the afternoon and evening. Precipitation chances will increase late in the day. Showers will start off late this afternoon across mountain terminals with better chances of precipitation after 00Z or by this evening. Winds will increase after 16Z late this morning with peak gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range this afternoon. Winds remain breezy through this evening and potentially overnight. VFR conditions will prevail until after 00Z when any showers could reduce CIGS and VSBY to ILS breakpoints with MVFR/IFR conditions during any shower activity.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 9 PM MDT Wednesday for COZ004-009-010-012-013-018-019. UT...None.