textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Unseasonably mild temperatures continue across the region, with highs 10-15 degrees above normal.

- A weak disturbance brings additional snow to the higher elevations of the Northern/Central Mountains Sunday.

- Mild conditions continue next week with additional snowfall for mountain locales around 9-10,000 feet.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 1139 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

With the polar jet parked well to our north and a significant ridge of high pressure upstream, the near-term forecast remains warm and mostly dry. Orographic snow showers sprouting on the northern mountains will taper down to nothing by evening, especially with the warmer temperatures at pass level and below. Stacked northwesterly flow aloft on the morning balloon sounding here is not only pushing drier air into the region, but warmer air too, thanks to that bubble of warm air to our west. This has been a recurring theme this winter and continues this coming week, with temperatures 10-15 degrees above climatology. Dry air will continue to spill over the ridge on Friday, with a few clouds accompanying it at the upper levels. A few snow flurries could fall in the alpine across the Continental Divide, but measurable snow is nil.

The West Coast Ridge gets flattened Saturday and some additional moisture streams across the Great Basin, leading to more cloud cover Saturday. Temperatures remain warm and mild. A weak shortwave pushes across the region Saturday night with our next chance for precipitation.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1139 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

A weak low pushing ashore in the PACNW sends additional moisture across the region early Sunday. Unfortunately, unseasonably warm temperatures keep snow levels high and liquid:snow ratios low. At the present, it looks like a couple inches of new snow above 10,000 feet Sunday for our Central/Northern Mountains. A transitory ridge works overhead Monday, with a few orographic showers on the Northern and Central Mountains. The degrading low works across the Great Basin on Tuesday as an open wave. This could dig far enough south to produce some light snow for the Southern Mountains. Models continue to advertise a progressive pattern Tuesday and beyond, with light bouts of mountain snow possible. Unfortunately, unseasonably mild conditions will prevail, keeping snow levels elevated through next week. Temperatures will continue to trend in excess of 10 degrees above average.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1135 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

Mid level ceilings continue across the northern and central mountains, mainly centered between KHDN, KRIL, KEGE, and KASE. This area of moisture is expected to slowly diminish through the afternoon and into the evening. TAF sites KRIL, KEGE, and KASE may occasionally drop to MVFR cigs as some light pcpn lingers into early evening.

Otherwise, mainly VFR conditions are expected at remaining TAF sites with some locally gusty afternoon winds between 20 to 25 kts.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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