textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Unseasonably warm and dry conditions dominate the forecast through early next week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 202 PM MST Fri Dec 12 2025

Models show good agreement and with satellite imagery with ridging along the West Coast from Baja north through the Pacific Northwest pushing the moist plume of the AR well to the north. Eastern Utah and Western Colorado are under the influence of the eastern flank of the ridge bringing mostly clear skies across the region and a weak northwesterly flow aloft. This ridge will slowly shift east through the Great Basin to the Rocky Mountains by Sunday morning. Late Saturday into Sunday morning we will see some mid to high clouds moving in from the west-southwest on the back side of the ridge associated with a low-latitude trough moving into the Desert Southwest. Other than the clouds, expect little change in the dry warm weather and light winds. One would think temperatures would at least warm another five or more degrees going into the weekend with the ridge with heights of 582 to 584 decimeters moving in from the west, but guidance keeps the daytime highs right around the 15 degrees mark above normal for mid December, likely due to the low sun angle limiting diurnal heating.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

Issued at 202 PM MST Fri Dec 12 2025

Hate to say it but little change with the going forecast. Ridging remains in place keeping abnormally warm temperatures in place as some high clouds move overhead from time to time. The next chance for any precip still looks to be midweek onwards as plenty of moisture moves into the Intermountain West. Meridional flow will keep this moisture to our north, unfortunately, though models are suggesting maybe some showery activity along the CO/WY border and the northern mountains. Of note, the EC is showing a bit more precip along the northern and central mountains and the northern valleys. Even if this happens, not much precip is expected as of now...a few inches at most.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 936 PM MST Fri Dec 12 2025

VFR will prevail over the next 24 hours with light winds and passing high cloudiness. The outlier may be KGUC where a nightly layer of ground fog could again develop and wander in and out creating MVFR/LIFR conditions at times. Went with persistence from last night with 06-10Z the most probable time period of occurrence.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...None. UT...None.