textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Freeze Warnings in place for the Yampa Basin and Central Colorado Basin Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

- Isolated showers and thunderstorms continue across the mountains Thursday and Friday, with some accumulating snow above 8500 feet.

- Temperatures warm above average this weekend, with isolated showers on the mountains each afternoon.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 102 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026

Westerly, zonal flow is painting cumulus across the terrain this afternoon. Unfortunately, mid level capping is suppressing shower growth. A few returns are showing up on radar, with just trace amounts of precipitation making it to gauges. Initial thoughts were that capping would be less influential this afternoon, but that hasn't been the case thus far. Gusty winds continue to mix down to the surface too. This synoptic pattern holds on into Thursday, with similar results expected Thursday afternoon. Kept with persistence in temperatures as well. Went ahead and issued another Freeze Warning for the Yampa and Central Colorado Basins, with overnight lows dipping into the upper 20s there again.

A weak low works across Baja on Thursday afternoon. This looks to set in motion the regime change we've been waiting on. High pressure builds over the West as well. A weak surface low appears to hang up to our south and east Thursday night and Friday. This will produce additional mountain snow for the Central Mountains and the San Juans. While some light snow will fall on the Northern Mountains, accumulations will be best from Vail Pass southward. Mountain travelers can expect some snow on roads both Friday and Saturday mornings. Daytime temperatures will lead to just wet roads.

The Weekend and Next Week

High pressure will produce above average temperatures Saturday into Monday. Afternoon showers will continue on the mountains too, as we hang on to remnant moisture and melted snowpacks. Models are still pushing a low across the Great Basin Monday and Tuesday. The moisture tap remains pretty insignificant on this one. Fortunately, we can expect some cooler temperatures and light moisture to stave off hot and dry conditions another few days, as temperatures hover around normal mid week.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1200 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026

VFR cigs and vsby are expected to remain across most of wrn CO and ern UT TAF sites as mid and upper lvl moisture drifts over the region. Some increased instability, combined with a passing wave, will generate a period of showers thru the evening across the Colorado high country, mainly near TAF sites KASE and KEGE. A few thunderstorms are also possible acrs the higher terrain. Gusty winds in excess of 35 mph, along with possible pds of MVFR cigs/vsby, will be the main threat near any shower or storms.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM MDT Thursday for COZ002-008. UT...None.