textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Scattered mountain showers are possible Friday afternoon.

- A series of systems will bring more widespread showers and storms Saturday through Tuesday.

- A cold front arrives Monday, bringing mountain snow and colder temperatures to start the work week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1008 PM MDT Thu Apr 9 2026

Friday

Lingering mositure is still supporting showers and those may persist overnight. Gusty winds will be more likely than measurable rainfall. Flow becomes more southwesterly tomorrow as a low pressure approaches the West Coast. There will be subtle changes in the moisture, but the more notable difference is that afternoon showers are possible and mainly confined to along the Divide. Like today these showers may be capable of producing gusty outflow winds up to 45 mph. In addition to that an increased pressure gradient looks to support an overall uptick in winds tomorrow. This will cause marginal elevated fire conditions across the southwest half of the area where fuels are critical. Those fire conditions are slightly more elevated in the northwest half of the area so the fire watch has been upgraded to a warning.

The Weekend and Early Next Week

Another stronger low pressure system descends out of the Gulf of Alaska tomorrow, and moves inland as a weak openwave on Saturday. This will push a cool front through the region early Saturday cooling high temperatures about ten degrees, and will bring widely scattered to wide spread showers and storms to the region in the afternoon and evening. Rainfall amounts remain minor with only a trace to a few hundredth inch likely over most areas. Up to a few tenths are possible in the southern and central mountains. With the warm conditions, only elevations above 10,000 ft will see snow, and only a few inches at that. On Sunday, isolated showers are possible, but for the most part it will be dry.

The second stronger low pressure system will have better jet support and it tracks across the region on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday it will push moisture into the region so precipitation chances increase and linger into Tuesday. The associated cold front will drop high temperatures another ten degrees through the first half of the week. With the stronger dynamics and colder air aloft, look for another round of valley rain and mountain snow showers across the region. As this low pressure moves inland it does break into several pieces of energy, so exact timing and details are not certain attm.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 440 AM MDT Fri Apr 10 2026

Mid and high level clouds are moving through with a few light light showers or virga falling out. VFR conditions are in place and this should not change over the next 24 hours. The main concern will be gusty winds near showers and storms later today which could bring gusts of 45 to 50 mph. General wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph will also be possible at times away from the shower activity thru sunset.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 149 PM MDT Thu Apr 9 2026

Dry conditions continue Friday for northwest portions of the area. A system approaching causes winds to increase therefore expect elevated fire conditions in the afternoon and early evening. Moisture advection on Saturday allows humidity to increase only to drop again for Sunday, so localized red flag is possible. Winds will be gusty this weekend. More widespread showers and storms are possible on Monday and Tuesday.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Red Flag Warning from noon today to 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ200-202-203. UT...None.