textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Freeze Warnings in place for most of the valleys across western Colorado, ending Thursday morning.

- Warmer, drier conditions return to the region. Temperatures surge well above normal Friday and beyond.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 937 PM MDT Wed May 6 2026

CHILLY NIGHT, WARMING UP TOMORROW:

Tonight, skies will clear and cool conditions will settle across the region below a fresh snowpack. Dry, northwest flow will continue Thursday, with temperatures returning to near normal under clear skies. A weak clipper system works across the Elkheads and Park Range Thursday afternoon. Snow and rain impacts are expected to be near nil.

HERE COMES THE HEAT:

High pressure slides into the driver seat Friday and temperatures surge upward in excess of 10 degrees above average. As high pressure continues to amplify across the West this weekend and beyond, afternoon highs will likely surpass 20 degrees above normal. In fact, NBM highs on Monday and Tuesday are currently surpassing the records of 90 and 92, respectively, at KGJT.

Sensible weather will be hard to come by during this stretch with broad subsidence under high pressure, but we will continue to monitor for subtle disturbances moving through the upper- level flow.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 516 AM MDT Thu May 7 2026

Winds will remain light and terrain driven until 18z or so, then becoming westerly and gusting 20-25 knots across much of the area. Winds become light and terrain driven again after sunset. High clouds will filter in through the day, with ceilings lowering after 00z this evening for terminals generally north of I-70. KEGE and KASE could see ceilings drop below ILS breakpoints after 00z. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Freeze Warning until 9 AM MDT this morning for COZ001-002-007- 008-011-020>023. UT...None.