textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Cooler, wetter weather settles in tonight, lasting through Wednesday morning. Sloppy travel conditions are expected above 9,000 feet.

- Sub-freezing temperatures are expected for some valleys early Wednesday morning. A Freeze Watch is in effect for the susceptible areas.

- After a brief mid-week warm up, cool and unsettled weather returns to the region.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1222 PM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

INCOMING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM:

The forecast remains on track for a low pressure system to track across the Great Basin region over the next 24 hours. As it approaches, strong, moist southwesterly flow continues to advect into eastern Utah and western Colorado. PWATS 100-150% of normal are expected by mid-day today, increasing to 150-200% of normal by Tuesday morning. This pattern will also continue to support gusty surface winds up to 35 mph.

The surface cold front will push through ahead of the main low tonight into tomorrow morning, ushering in a much cooler airmass. Temperatures will run 5-15 degrees below normal helping snow levels fall to around 7500 feet. This supports accumulating snow at and above pass level, with valley rain showers below. The big question remains how much snow will accumulate, and how impactful it will be. The best forcing moves through during the day Tuesday, meaning that any accumulating snow will be fighting against the high spring sun- angle and the warm surface temperatures. Snowfall rates are also not that impressive, lowering the likelihood of advisory-level winter storm impacts. Regardless, if travelling over the mountains on Tuesday into Wednesday morning, be prepared for sloppy driving conditions.

Some valleys will see temperatures in the upper 20s, low 30s Wednesday morning. As such, a Freeze Watch has been issued.

COOLER AND UNSETTLED FRIDAY AND BEYOND:

Wednesday and Thursday look to bring a brief break from the wind and the cooler temperatures as transient ridging passes through. Temperatures rebound to near or slightly above normal. However, another low pressure system drops in from the Pacific Northwest late in the week. While the details remain muddled, one can expect a cooler, wetter period as this system passes through. Perhaps most notably, a hard freeze is very likely Saturday morning. Stay tuned throughout the week as we continue to parse out what this system will have in store for eastern Utah and western Colorado.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 536 PM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

SCT cloud cover in place late this afternoon with clouds becoming BKN by sunset. Virga showers are leading to enhanced gusty winds in addition to gradient winds with SW gusts in the 25 to 35 mph range expected through the evening, becoming lighter but still breezy at times after sunset. PROB30 groups in place for showers this evening until better chances of wetting precipitation reaching the ground exist after midnight. VFR conditions remain in place until after midnight when MVFR are possible under any shower activity due to lower CIGS and VSBY. ILS breakpoints will be met heading towards 12Z and onwards with prevailing precipitation in many areas. Showers become more scattered after 18Z Tuesday with breezy afternoon winds returning as the system begins to move out and drier air moves back in by late Tuesday afternoon, so back to PROB30 groups after 18Z.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Freeze Watch from late Tuesday night through Wednesday morning for COZ001-002-007-008-011-020>023. UT...Freeze Watch from late Tuesday night through Wednesday morning for UTZ024.