textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Breezy afternoon winds and above average temperatures will occur each day for the coming work week.

- A passing wave may bring a few snow showers to the northern mountains and San Juans. No accumulations expected.

- Anomalously warm temperatures close to 20 degrees above normal are expected by the end of the week, with many locations seeing near-record breaking warmth.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 1020 PM MDT Sun Mar 8 2026

Little change to the going forecast as a closed low well to our south drifts eastward through the period. The location of this feature will also keep west through southwesterly flow across the region, allowing warm air advection to continue Monday and Tuesday. High temperatures will jump to anywhere from 10 to 15 degrees above usual mid March values for both days. To our north, the jet stream will start sagging southward and models have been very consistent with some gusty surface winds mixing down to the surface as a result. The northern valleys will be closest to the jet and will see the gustier winds (25 to 35 mph) but most of our higher terrain and remaining valleys will see some higher gusts Monday afternoon. Look for similar conditions Tuesday with a slight uptick in those gusty winds. In fact, look for gusty afternoon winds through the week. A weak wave will move through during the day Tuesday and may manage to squeeze a few snow showers over the northern mountains and San Juans. No appreciable accumulation expected. Through the period, most areas will see partly cloudy skies except for the northern mountains and valleys. The location of the jet will keep partly to mostly cloudy skies in the forecast there.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/

Issued at 1020 PM MDT Sun Mar 8 2026

A weak clipper will glance the northern counties on Wednesday, allowing some light cloud cover Wednesday afternoon. Temperatures will take a 5-10 degree dip thanks to some cold air that will struggle to make it south of the Colorado River. Warm air returns Thursday as high pressure builds into the Southwest off the Pacific. This will drive temperatures up into the 70s and 80s for our lower elevations Thursday and Friday, likely holding there into the weekend. The stubborn frontal boundary/jet max draped across the country to our north starts dipping south late week. This is expected to tighten the gradient and introduce gusty winds to the region Thursday and onward. The warmer, drier pattern starts to favor critical fire weather late week. However, elevated RH values with the strongest winds across northwest Colorado seem to take that threat off the table. Non-zero precipitation chances return Sunday to the Uintas and northern mountains of Colorado. QPF is rather weak, but the chance at some moisture is worth noting. Dry conditions persist, though, for the remaining portions of the CWA. Moisture starved basins in southwest Colorado and southeast Utah will continue to flirt with critical fire weather under this persistent warm and dry pattern.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1142 AM MDT Mon Mar 9 2026

Mostly sunny skies will persist throughout the afternoon, but tonight high and mid level cloud coverage will increase. Strong wind gusts will occur at most TAF sites this afternoon, with gusts up to 20 to 30 kts possible. VFR conditions are expected to prevail.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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