textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Valley rain and mountain snow showers are expected through Tuesday evening. Winter driving conditions are possible tonight and Tuesday morning, mainly at pass level in the northern and central mountains.

- Unsettled conditions pause briefly mid-week, but another stronger system works across the Southwest with potential impacts late week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1024 PM MDT Mon Apr 27 2026

CONTINUED UNSETTLED WEATHER:

The train of shortwave troughs persists throughout the week, continuing the pattern of unsettled weather across the west slope. PWAT's have steadily decreased over the past 24 hours according to GJT soundings though, and ensembles are confident in the lack of additional moisture in spite of the arrival of these shortwaves. This is reducing PoP's through Tuesday and Wednesday, though isolated showers and thunderstorms will still be possible, primarily anchored to the high terrain across north and central Colorado. Precipitation potential looks more favorable on Thursday and Friday as upper-level dynamics become more favorable underneath the next passing shortwave. While moisture will still mostly reside east of the Rockies, we could see some seep west of the Divide, which would further support storm development, particularly over the mountains. Temperatures are looking to remain relatively consistent through the week, meaning snow levels are expected to be similar to what we saw this weekend at around 8 to 9 kft. Some mixed precipitation cannot be ruled out in the highest elevation portions of mountain valleys, but in general, look for the bulk of snowfall to be restricted to above pass level. After NBM snow accumulations for this storm dropped earlier today, they have risen once again, so it's clear that there still remains too much uncertainty to speculate on exact snow totals.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1129 PM MDT Mon Apr 27 2026

A moist and unstable atmosphere continues to produce low clouds and precipitation mainly across the northern TAF sites with KHDN fluctuating between IFR/LIFR the past few hours. Minimal improvement expected here through the morning though MVFR may be achieved at times as snow lets up and vsby/cigs lift. ILS/MVFR conditions are also forecast to move through KEGE and KASE as this wave moves through. Unsettled conditions continue into the afternoon hours on Tuesday over the eastern TAF sites with afternoon showers and thunderstorms developing though coverage should be less the past few days.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Freeze Warning until 9 AM MDT Tuesday for COZ022-023. UT...None.