textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Expect light snow showers with an inch of new snow possible over the Park and Gore Ranges tonight and again tomorrow night. - Warming days, cool nights with dry weather persist through the weekend and most of next week for most of the region.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 117 PM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

Models are in good agreement with satellite imagery indicating the ridge moving inland off the Eastern Pacific into the Great Basin. With the troughing to the east over the Great Plains, eastern Utah and Western Colorado will remain under a north to northwesterly flow aloft through the short term. Light snow continues along the Park Range through this afternoon that could result in another inch or two of snow on the higher peaks by this evening. A couple weak disturbances, the first tonight into Friday morning brings a slight chance for snow showers to the northern and central Colorado mountains, and the second, Friday night into Saturday morning brings better chances for snow showers to the same areas. Each of these waves could result in yet another inch of snow accumulation. We will see temperatures to start warming a few degrees each day under the influence of the ridge moving in from the west. Elsewhere across the region, expect fair weather under mostly sunny skies. Look for the highs this afternoon running a few degrees above normal, warming to about five degrees above normal Friday.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 117 PM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

As has been the case for much of this winter, eastern Utah and western Colorado will be under northwesterly flow, sandwiched between a ridge to the west and a trough to the east. Passing waves in the flow aloft will bring periods of increased clouds and some snow showers to the northern, and perhaps central, Divide mountains. Models are growing increasingly confident that a Rex Block will set up over the West Coast early next week, with a low over Baja California, and a high centered over Nevada. This would keep us sunny and dry, deflecting any potential systems to our north and east. A gradual warming trend is expected through the long term period, with temperatures starting out near normal and climbing to 5- 10 degrees above normal by the middle of next week.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 420 PM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

High clouds will continue to pass over the region, with some mid-level clouds close to the northern Divide mountains. These should not impact airport operations. Winds will be light and follow typical terrain driven patterns. VFR conditions will prevail.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...None. UT...None.