textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Widespread rain and mountain snow returns this evening through early Monday as a Pacific system works across the Rockies.

- Winter Weather Advisories are in effect from midnight tonight through midnight Sunday night for some mountain areas above 9,000 feet. Travel over mountain passes may become difficult during the nighttime hours.

- The cooler and unsettled weather persists through the work week and possibly into next weekend.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 124 PM MDT Sat Apr 25 2026

WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION THIS WEEKEND:

A low pressure system off of the coast of California is supporting moisture advection across the Southwest. The bulk of the increased moisture is just approaching the Four Corners region, and will spread over our CWA tonight. Radar imagery shows some activity beginning north of I-70, but traffic cameras show that most of this is virga. The 18Z GJT sounding shows very dry surface conditions, which aligns with the virga observations. As moisture increases and energy from the low reaches our area, shower coverage will increase, becoming widespread this evening/tonight. Widespread showers associated with this system will continue through tomorrow night. This will result in valley rain showers/afternoon thunderstorms and measurable snow at high elevations. Mountain snowfall picks up after midnight tonight, but the heaviest snowfall is expected to occur Sunday morning. Impacts from snow are mostly expected above 9,000 feet, although the warmer temperatures associated with this system allow for some uncertainty regarding how much snow will stick, especially on roadways and during daylight hours. Nonetheless, Winter Weather Advisories have been issued from midnight tonight through midnight Sunday night above 9,000 feet for the Flat Tops, Southwest San Juan Mountains, Grand and Battlement Mesas, and West Elk and Sawatch Mountains.

LINGERING MOUNTAIN SNOW AND COOLER TEMPERATURES:

After this system moves through light mountain snowfall will be possible through the workweek, with a lull expected midweek. This persistent snowfall is thanks to some weakly elevated moisture amounts and a series of disturbances moving through our area.

Temperatures drop on Sunday as the system moves through, leading to daytime high temperatures below normal. Below normal temperatures continue until the midweek when a slight warmup brings highs back to normal for this time of the year.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/

Issued at 542 PM MDT Sat Apr 25 2026

Showers will begin to expand and reach the ground through the evening. Expect VFR to continue to prevail at the TAF sites with a few sites reaching ILS conditions toward midnight. Overnight showers will cover most of the area with ILS to IFR conditions developing in light precipitation and lower clouds. As we move through Sunday instability increases introducing the threat of thunderstorms. The heavier precipitation rates could lead to IFR/LIFR conditions for brief periods. Gusty winds near storms and showers are likely tomorrow afternoon as well.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to midnight MDT Sunday night for COZ009-012-013-019. UT...None.