textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Freeze Warnings are in effect from 2AM to 8AM. Take precautions to protect sensitive vegetation.

- Gusty winds of 25-35 mph will be possible most afternoons through the weekend, with gusts up to 45 mph possible for areas along and north of I-70.

- Dry surface conditions, critical fuels, and gusty winds will lead to critical fire weather conditions in northwest Colorado. Red Flag Warnings are in effect.

- Widespread rain and mountain snow returns Saturday night through Sunday. Cooler and unsettled weather continues through mid next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1044 PM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026

WARMER, BREEZY END TO THE WEEK:

Zonal flow persists, with a 70-80 knot westerly jet aloft. This will keep conditions relatively quiet, with temperatures warming to near or a few degrees above normal to round out the week and start the weekend. Winds also remain breezy thanks to deep daytime mixing tapping into that jet, with widespread gusts of 25-35 mph expected. Some areas, mainly north of I-70, could see gusts up to 45 mph. With dry surface air in place and critical fuels, this has led to critical fire weather conditions for northwest Colorado, with Red Flag Warnings in effect. While fuels are not critical across the rest of eastern Utah and western Colorado, winds and humidities remain in critical fire weather range. So be mindful with any spark sources, such as campfires, agricultural burning, or dragging chains.

COOLER, WETTER PATTERN RETURNS:

A trough begins to deepen off the West Coast Saturday, with flow aloft shifting to more southwesterly. This will begin to advect deeper moisture from the subtropics into the Desert Southwest. Forecast PWATs are expected to run 130-180% of normal across eastern Utah and western Colorado by Sunday morning. With the increasing moisture, clouds will be on the increase through Saturday afternoon, with showers breaking out over the higher terrain Saturday night into Sunday. The Pacific trough will track through the Great Basin Saturday night, reaching the Four Corners Sunday morning. With ample moisture in place, and ample forcing between the upper level trough and favorable orographics, precipitation will become widespread. Look for valley rain and mountain snow above 8000 feet. Precipitation will linger into Monday as several shortwaves rotate around a parent trough over the Canadian Prairie Provinces. Each wave will bring a reinforcing shot of cooler air and another round of valley rain and mountain snow showers. Between the cooler airmass and the widespread clouds and showers, this will keep temperatures at or below normal for late April well into the middle of next week.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1148 PM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026

Lighter winds prevail throughout the night before strong gusts return tomorrow as early as 17z. Look for terminals to see gusts as high as 25-35 knots in the afternoon. Otherwise, VFR conditions dominate throughout the TAF period.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1044 PM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026

Dry and breezy conditions continue across eastern Utah and Western Colorado. Winds will gust 25-35 mph across the region, up to 45 mph for areas along and north of I-70. Fuels remain critical across northwest Colorado. Therefore, with the combination of winds, low humidity, and critical fuels, Red Flag Warnings are in effect for Colorado Fire Weather Zones 201 and 202 from noon through 9 PM. Increasing moisture and cooler temperatures Saturday onward will limit critical fire weather potential.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Freeze Warning until 8 AM MDT Friday for COZ001-002-007-008- 021>023. Red Flag Warning from noon to 9 PM MDT Friday for COZ200-202. UT...None.