textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Freezing temperatures are expected tonight for the valleys of eastern Utah and western Colorado. A Freeze Warning is in effect.

- A cold front will deliver 6-12 inches of new snow to the Flat Tops, Elkheads, and Park Range tonight, with lesser amounts down into the central mountains and San Juans.

- Freeze Watches continue Saturday morning for most valleys on the West Slope and a few more may be needed into Sunday.

- Drier and warmer conditions will start the new week with a stormier end to the week.

UPDATE

Issued at 323 AM MDT Fri Apr 3 2026

Some light snow will continue over the northern mountains and Flat Tops but significant accumulations are not expected. For this reason, the winter weather advisories have been allowed to expire.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1023 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Another front with a good punch is moving through the southern CWA late this evening. Along and behind the front we have had gusts to 55 mph...lightning and moderate to heavy snow rates. The thunderstorms and winds have backed off a bit but lift over this front is leading to a widespread precipitation shield across the northern half of our CWA. Just looking at webcams and guesstimating...2 to 4 inches of snow has fallen along the Highway 13 and 40 corridors...with Maybell to Steamboat mostly snowpacked. Rabbit Ears is also snow packed and conditions are likely to deteriorate up Vail Pass shortly. Freeze conditions are more likely up north where the cold air is locked in north of the high plateaus. Farther south post frontal winds and clouds may linger long enough to keep things from dropping below freezing for too long if at all. Tomorrow night is a different story. The ascent and frontal lifting wanes through the early morning hours so much of this precipitation shield will be shrinking. Wrap around moisture from the parent low over the northern high plains will keep light snow over the northern mountains through the day with little accumulation and impacts. Temperatures settle back 10 to 15 degrees colder than yesterday in the post frontal regime. Lighter winds and clear skies tomorrow night should be efficient at dropping temperatures below freezing. Ridging builds back over the Intermountain West on Saturday and Sunday and we gain nearly 10 degrees of warming each day. Warmer temperatures continue for much of next week. A northern stream system dropping through the northern states flattens the ridge mid week followed by a Pacific system moving inland upstream over Cali. Early solutions hint at another round of active weather Thursday into the weekend.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1139 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026

A storm system and associated cold front continues moving across the area. Precipitation, mostly in the form of snow, will continue along the front as it moves from northwest to Southeast. Most precipitation will end by 12Z, but lingering mountain snow showers are possible through the TAF period, especially near KHDN. MVFR to LIFR conditions and drops below ILS breakpoints are possible, particularly at the higher elevation sites receiving snow. Ceilings will lift during the morning hours, leading to SKC for many lower elevation sites by the afternoon. Gusty winds will persist at many TAF sites until the evening. LLWS will be common for KASE and KTEX.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Freeze Warning until 10 AM MDT this morning for COZ001-006>008- 011-020>023. Freeze Watch from late tonight through Saturday morning for COZ001-006>008-011-020>023. UT...Freeze Warning until 10 AM MDT this morning for UTZ024-027-029. Freeze Watch from late tonight through Saturday morning for UTZ024-027-029.