textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect tonight and Saturday for most of the mountains in Colorado and La Sals and Abajos of Utah.

- Widespread 6 to 12 inches of snow is expected with locally higher amounts possible

- Some valley snow is also possible though amounts will differ greatly across the forecast area from 1-6 inches.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 156 PM MST Fri Jan 23 2026

The cutoff low spinning off northern Baja continues to push warm, moist air into the region. Surface obs around the Four Corners highlight the warmer air still in place there, while a quick shift to colder, drier air north of the Colorado River takes place on the other side of the stationary boundary. This morning's package really picked up on this dry air with a sharp drop-off in precipitation north of I-70. The Uintas, Flat Tops and Park Range will still get some light snow, but stronger convective showers will remain south on the Central and Southern Mountains. Snow showers will continue across the region tonight, with mountain passes expected to see numerous travel headaches through Saturday. Winter Weather Advisories were left in place with 6-12 inches of mountain snow expected, including locally higher totals on favored aspects.

Colder air will continue to push south with the front tonight and Saturday, with orographic showers continuing across the terrain, including some embedded snow showers in the more convective frontal region, thanks to the introduced steeper lapse rate environment. Cold, dry air filtering in behind the front Saturday night will clear skies out from eastern Utah to just shy of the Continental Divide. This will taper precipitation and send area temperatures down into the seasonally correct neighborhood. Mountain locales will likely dip below zero and our lower elevation deserts will see temps dip into the teens Sunday morning.

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 156 PM MST Fri Jan 23 2026

On Sunday northerly flow behind the system will usher in the post frontal air mass making it the coldest day of the period. Wind gusts ranging from 20 mph in the lower elevations to 45 mph in the mountains will cause wind chill values to reach the single digits and as low as -30 degrees along the peaks. Over the last few cycles models have introduced a shortwave tracking over the High Plains. This wave may be able to produce snow showers in the northern and central mountains late morning through the evening. As for now snowfall amounts are minor, but the combination of snow and wind could cause some impacts to travel in the mountains. Dry northwest flow continues early next week and temperatures gradually warm up.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1026 AM MST Fri Jan 23 2026

Scattered snow showers have developed and will remain possible this afternoon, becoming more widespread this evening and overnight. Snow will continue tomorrow morning as well. These showers are expected to result in LIFR/IFR conditions.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM MST Sunday for COZ009-010- 012-018-019. Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM MST Saturday for COZ013. Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM MST Saturday for COZ017. Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 5 AM MST Sunday for COZ023. UT...Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM MST Saturday for UTZ028.