textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Dry and unseasonably cool conditions remain in place through the weekend.

- A Freeze Warning is in effect tonight for valley locations where sub-freezing temperatures are expected.

- The potential for unsettled weather will increase throughout the week ahead.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 934 PM MDT Fri Oct 16 2026

COOL AND MOSTLY DRY THROUGH THE WEEKEND:

High pressure remains in control through much of the weekend, keeping things dry and sunny. Temperatures remain on the cooler side through the weekend, with highs near to around 5 degrees below normal and seasonably cool lows. Across the northwest CO valleys, as well as the upper Colorado River Valley and CO Zone 23, subfreezing temperatures are once again forecast. A Freeze Warning is in effect through 9AM Saturday morning.

UNSETTLED WEATHER RETURNS:

An area of low pressure that has been lurking off the SoCal coast the last few days is expected to become a mobile, open wave by Sunday, making its way toward the Four Corners. A bit of moisture a lift associated with the passing of this wave will result in some light mountain showers for the San Juans, generally in the form of rain. Some light snow showers will be possible Sunday night into Monday, but mainly at elevations above roughly 12k feet. Elsewhere, conditions remain dry.

The next stronger Pacific trough will approach the West Coast Monday, resulting in flow across the western CONUS turning southwesterly. This will begin to draw up rich tropical moisture through the Four Corners, leading to afternoon mountain showers where orographics are favorable, mainly across the San Juans and into the Central Divide Mountains. Better forcing looks to move in mid-week, as the Pacific low moves through SoCal and begins to track through the Desert Southwest. There is still a lot of uncertainty regarding this system, its exact track, timing, and strength. Suffice to say, it's looking like a return to cooler and unsettled weather is likely mid to late next week.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 503 AM MDT Sat Oct 17 2026

VFR conditions expected over the next 24 hours under clear to partly cloudy skies as high clouds drift over. Winds will remain light and terrain driven.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Freeze Warning until 9 AM MDT this morning for COZ001-002-005- 008-023. UT...None.