textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Patchy dense fog with areas of freezing fog are expected overnight tonight and tomorrow morning. - Active weather looks to return overnight Wednesday into Thursday as a weather system moves into the area, bringing measurable snow to the mountains.

- Above normal high temperatures persist tomorrow, but on Thursday a cold front will drop highs to near or below normal.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 211 PM MST Tue Jan 6 2026

Skies are mostly sunny across the CWA as this morning's cloud cover has cleared. Clouds will increase this evening, especially south of I-70, which should keep overnight temperatures on the warmer side. Fog is expected again tonight and tomorrow morning in valleys and near river basins. Below freezing low temperatures across much of the CWA could lead to freezing fog. Precipitation chances will remain remain low through most of the short term period, but some snow showers are possible tomorrow along the higher terrain as atmospheric moisture increases. Tomorrow's high temperatures will be very similar to today's, perhaps only changing by a few degrees. So, still above normal for this time of the year.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/

Issued at 211 PM MST Tue Jan 6 2026

Precip starts to overspread the area early Thursday morning as a shortwave out ahead of the next, more potent trough and associated cold front moves through. Might see an inch or three thanks to the shortwave for the higher elevations. As far as the trough and cold front are concerned, they start moving through around noon Thursday and by the evening hours, the front will have just about reached the CO/NM border. Heavier precip will accompany frontal passage thanks to the increased lift. A closed low is also expected to form at the base of the long wave trough and also create more lift and thus, heavier precip. This low will then track along the CO/NM border and remain the focus of heavier precip. Was ready to pull the trigger on some advisories but some minor changes changed that thinking. Previous runs had our CWA under the favorable regions of two jet streaks but this support has now shifted further to the northeast and southeast and weakened some which will limit the amount of upper level support. Also, available moisture will be high out ahead of the front but drop off considerably with frontal passage. EC and GFS meteograms, and ens meteograms have also dropped snowfall amounts across the board. Finally, forecast snowfall amounts have been overdone for every system that has moved through so far this season so far all these reasons, decided to hold off on issuing any highlights. All surrounding offices were also on board so, hopefully, another model run will nail down the specifics. We will be getting snow, the questions mentioned above still remain and confidence is just not high enough to issue any highlights.

The bad news is that once the system passes the remainder of the long term period will be dry and much of next week as well. High temperatures on Thursday will be several degrees above seasonal averages but Friday and Saturday will see highs at or just below those same averages. Sunday onwards, temps will start to warmup day by day.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 933 PM MST Tue Jan 6 2026

VFR conditions and light, terrain-driven winds should dominate tonight. However, there is still an outside chance of some fog development later tonight. Probabilities are too low to include in TAF's right now though. Ahead of another storm system, look for denser cloud cover (generally at or above 10,000 feet) to begin moving in late tomorrow morning or early afternoon. A slight potential for snow showers begins at KTEX, KDRO, and KHDN just before sunset tomorrow, but the most active weather is expected beyond the TAF period.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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