textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Valley rain and mountain snow will continue through tonight, with snow favoring the central and northern Colorado mountains. Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect.

- Cool temperatures can be expected over the next several days with sub freezing nighttime temperatures forecast across northwest Colorado and other mountain valley areas on Thursday night. A Freeze Watch is in effect Thursday night through Friday morning.

- Drier weather is expected Thursday through most of the weekend.

UPDATE

Issued at 603 PM MDT Wed Oct 14 2026

Snow has begun to taper off across the San Juan mountains this evening, and additional snow accumulations are expected to be minimal. Therefore the Winter Weather Advisory has been allowed to expire. Occasional snow showers will continue through tomorrow morning, with the potential to bring brief heavy snow and reduced visibility over mountain passes. Use caution if travelling this evening or overnight. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for the Central and Northern Divide ranges above 9500 feet through tomorrow morning.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 112 PM MDT Wed Oct 14 2026

VALLEY RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW THROUGH TONIGHT:

Satellite imagery shows that the low pressure system that is bringing widespread rain and mountain snow is currently centered over southwestern Colorado. The low will move across western Colorado today and will be centered over eastern Colorado by Thursday morning. Snowfall was observed this morning over some mountain passes and higher terrain areas, such as the San Juan Mountains and the Grand Mesa, but sunrise and the subsequent increase in temperatures transitioned snowfall to rainfall in many of these areas. However, snowfall is still the likely precipitation type at the highest elevations, and a transition from rain to snow or a rain/snow mix is expected this evening and tonight where precipitation occurs in the mountains.

The bulk of the total expected snowfall for the southern Colorado mountians fell earlier today while forcing from the low was more favorable in this area. However, 1 to 3 inches of additional snowfall is possible over the highest terrain of the southern mountains. The central and northern mountains are expected to receive 4 to 8 inches of snow along the highest terrain as forcing becomes more favorable in this area through the remainder of the day. Elevation-based Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect through 6 PM for the southern Colorado mountains, and through 6 AM Thursday for the central and northern Colorado mountains.

COOL AND DRY FOR THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK:

Drier air moves into the region after the low pressure system moves east of the Rocky Mountains on Thursday morning. The current forecast keeps precipitation chances low Thursday afternoon through Sunday, especially outside of the higher terrain areas. A much cooler airmass is left in its wake, and could lead to the first hard freeze of the year across northwest Colorado and some mountain valleys on Thursday night. Confidence in these overnight temperatures has increased, so a Freeze Watch has been issued for Thursday night through Friday morning. Overnight low temperatures warm slightly after Thursday night, but may still fall below freezing in some areas of northwest Colorado and in mountain valleys. High temperatures will increase daily, but will still remain below normal through the weekend.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 541 PM MDT Wed Oct 14 2026

Showers and isolated thunderstorms continue into the overnight period along with low ceilings and visibility. Snow is occurring at higher elevation sites including KASE, KEGE, KTEX, and KHDN. Fog may develop overnight especially in the mountain valleys but confidence in exact timing and location is low. Expect below ILS breakpoints at mountain TAF sites through the evening hours with MVRF/IFR possible in heavier showers. Conditions will begin to improve Thursday morning into the afternoon.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Freeze Watch from late Thursday night through Friday morning for COZ001-002-005-008-023. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM MDT Thursday for COZ004-009- 010-012-013. UT...None.