textproduct: Grand Junction
This forecast discussion was created in the public domain by the National Weather Service. It can be found in its original form here.
KEY MESSAGES
- Dry conditions persist with above normal temperatures.
- Valley rain and mountain snow showers return on Thursday and Friday.
SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/
Issued at 1240 AM MST Tue Dec 30 2025
A ridge building over the West Coast will gradually slide eastward and keep us under dry conditions. Warm advection has allowed temperatures to warm and that will continue through tomorrow. A few snow covered valleys may struggle to warm as fast as other locations. Today will be mostly sunny although clouds begin to move in from the southwest tonight and tomorrow.
LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/
Issued at 154 PM MST Mon Dec 29 2025
Moisture moves in for Thursday and Friday as an open wave trough moves across the area, with PWAT anomalies increasing to 200 to 300 percent of normal...which amounts to PWAT between 0.5 and 0.6 inches. What is concerning is the temperatures which are still fairly mild with this moisture, getting down to the 0C to -3C range at H7 at best. There is not much dynamic forcing with this system either as the jet stays south of the region, so snowfall rates at this time appear on the lighter side for the mountains with orographics being the main driver. Details are still uncertain with regards to how high snow levels will be since we are lacking the deep cold air needed for productive snowfall. Most valley locations should remain rain throughout this event with snow levels at this time varying between 8kft and 9kft although snow levels potentially could be higher at times which complicates the forecast. Ridging moves overhead behind this system for the coming weekend, bringing a return to dry conditions and well above normal temperatures although we never really cool down much in the first place...maybe by about 5 degrees cooler on Thursday as this moisture passes through before warming back up to 10 to 15 degrees above normal this coming weekend.
AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/
Issued at 1021 AM MST Tue Dec 30 2025
VFR conditions will prevail over the next 24 hours with light, terrain driven winds. Some enhanced drainage winds are possible overnight particularly at KHDN. High clouds begin to increase from the southwest Wednesday morning.
GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CO...None. UT...None.
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