textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Sub-freezing temperatures are expected tonight into Sunday morning for some valleys and possibly again Sunday night/Monday morning for the higher valleys.

- Warmer and drier conditions are expected Sunday afternoon with temperatures warming up to around 10 degrees above normal through the coming week.

- A few rounds of light precipitation will favor the mountains this week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 945 PM MDT Sat Apr 4 2026

ONE MORE NIGHT OF FREEZING TEMPS BEFORE WARMING UP:

We will see one more night of widespread below freezing temperatures although some locations, particularly the lower desert valleys of eastern Utah and west-central Colorado will be a few degrees warmer than previous nights. A Freeze Warning remains in effect for most valley locations through 9 am Sunday morning. The aforementioned Grand Valley and southeast Utah valleys are not included in the Freeze Warning due to milder temperatures staying above freezing for the majority of those zones.

Northwest flow will transition to a westerly flow by Sunday afternoon as the ridge of high pressure moves overhead. This will help temperatures moderate about 5 to 10 degrees from Saturday as the warmup commences and will continue into the coming week.

By Sunday night, lows are expected to be right at or slightly above freezing for most valleys. We'll keep an eye on how temperatures perform tonight to determine if any valley forecast zones need a Freeze Warning on Sunday night, but with such borderline temperatures in the forecast, we decided to hold off for now.

LOOKING AHEAD:

Throughout the work week, we will receive modest pulses of moisture that will prompt a few rounds of light precipitation favoring the higher elevations. The first such shortwave skirts the Four Corners Monday afternoon into Tuesday favoring the southern and central high terrain. A few other embedded shortwaves skirt the north periodically mid to late week. Light snow accumulations are possible at and above pass level. Everyone else will see light rain and isolated thunderstorms from time to time. These shortwaves don't appear to impact temperatures much as highs continue to warm to around 10 degrees above normal on average throughout the week under a general west to southwest flow.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1125 PM MDT Sat Apr 4 2026

VFR conditions will remain in place for the next 24 hours. Generally light winds expected across the area.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Freeze Warning until 9 AM MDT Sunday for COZ001-007-008-011- 020>023. UT...Freeze Warning until 9 AM MDT Sunday for UTZ024.