textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Sub-freezing temperatures are expected in various valleys tonight and tomorrow night before a widespread hard freeze sets in on Friday night.

- After a brief mid-week warm up, cooler and unsettled weather returns to the region Thursday night through Saturday morning.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1256 PM MDT Wed Apr 15 2026

WARM DAYS, COOL NIGHTS, WINDY THROUGH THURSDAY:

Transient high pressure is building in and will promote warm days and cool nights today and tomorrow. A Freeze Warning is in effect for the southwest Colorado valleys this evening where sub-freezing temperatures are expected.

As our next weather system approaches from the northwest tomorrow, the strengthening pressure gradient will promote gusty afternoon winds. Northeast Utah and northwest Colorado will see the strongest winds with valley gusts up to 50 mph. As a result, Wind Advisories are in effect tomorrow from 11 AM to 8 PM.

LATE WEEK HARD FREEZE, LIGHT SNOW:

Precipitation chances increase Thursday PM into Friday as the aformentioned low pressure system moves through. Expect scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms along the Uinta Mountains Thursday afternoon, with precipitation pushing southeast Thursday night into Friday morning.

Snow levels drop on Friday as a strong cold front traverses the region. This will bring light snow to the northern and central mountains, with light snow possible in the valleys as well. As of now accumulations do not look impressive, but periods of winter travel conditions cannot be ruled out, especially at pass level. We will need moderate the heavy snowfall rates in the valleys in order to see accumulating snow on the warm pavement, which is only possible as the cold front is moving through.

Perhaps most importantly, a hard freeze very likely Friday night into Saturday morning as this system moves off to the east. Many of the valleys across the region will see lows in the teens to upper 20's. Freeze Watches have been issued as we gear up for this impactful event.

LOOKING AHEAD:

A ridge of high pressure builds back in this weekend into early next week resulting in the return of unseasonably warm temperatures.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1256 PM MDT Wed Apr 15 2026

ILS cigs are possible at KASE and KEGE through the evening. Several sites may see gusty winds this afternoon otherwise VFR conditions are expected.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Wind Advisory from 11 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday for COZ001-002- 007-008. Freeze Watch from late Thursday night through Friday morning for COZ001-002. Freeze Watch from Friday evening through Saturday morning for COZ001-002-006>008-011-020>023. Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM MDT Thursday for COZ008-021>023. UT...Wind Advisory from 11 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday for UTZ024-027. Freeze Watch from late Thursday night through Friday morning for UTZ024. Freeze Watch from Friday evening through Saturday morning for UTZ022-024-027-029.