textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Scattered mountain showers are possible Friday afternoon.

- A series of systems will bring more widespread showers and storms Saturday through Tuesday.

- A cold front arrives Monday, bringing mountain snow and colder temperatures to start the work week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1008 PM MDT Thu Apr 9 2026

Friday

Lingering mositure is still supporting showers and those may persist overnight. Gusty winds will be more likely than measurable rainfall. Flow becomes more southwesterly tomorrow as a low pressure approaches the West Coast. There will be subtle changes in the moisture, but the more notable difference is that afternoon showers are possible and mainly confined to along the Divide. Like today these showers may be capable of producing gusty outflow winds up to 45 mph. In addition to that an increased pressure gradient looks to support an overall uptick in winds tomorrow. This will cause marginal elevated fire conditions across the southwest half of the area where fuels are critical. Those fire conditions are slightly more elevated in the northwest half of the area so the fire watch has been upgraded to a warning.

The Weekend and Early Next Week

Another stronger low pressure system descends out of the Gulf of Alaska tomorrow, and moves inland as a weak openwave on Saturday. This will push a cool front through the region early Saturday cooling high temperatures about ten degrees, and will bring widely scattered to wide spread showers and storms to the region in the afternoon and evening. Rainfall amounts remain minor with only a trace to a few hundredth inch likely over most areas. Up to a few tenths are possible in the southern and central mountains. With the warm conditions, only elevations above 10,000 ft will see snow, and only a few inches at that. On Sunday, isolated showers are possible, but for the most part it will be dry.

The second stronger low pressure system will have better jet support and it tracks across the region on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday it will push moisture into the region so precipitation chances increase and linger into Tuesday. The associated cold front will drop high temperatures another ten degrees through the first half of the week. With the stronger dynamics and colder air aloft, look for another round of valley rain and mountain snow showers across the region. As this low pressure moves inland it does break into several pieces of energy, so exact timing and details are not certain attm.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 525 PM MDT Thu Apr 9 2026

Showers and a few thunderstorms will linger north of the I-70 corridor through 02z, before dissipating. These showers and storms could produce gusty and erratic winds. Otherwise, winds southwesterly winds this afternoon will transition to lighter and terrain driven winds after sunset. Tomorrow afternoon, southerly to southwesterly winds return, with gusts up to 30 knots possible at all terminals. Higher elevation terminals will also see another round of showers or thunderstorms during the afternoon. VFR conditions will prevail, although ceilings may briefly drop below breakpoints with passing showers or storms.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 149 PM MDT Thu Apr 9 2026

Dry conditions continue Friday for northwest portions of the area. A system approaching causes winds to increase therefore expect elevated fire conditions in the afternoon and early evening. Moisture advection on Saturday allows humidity to increase only to drop again for Sunday, so localized red flag is possible. Winds will be gusty this weekend. More widespread showers and storms are possible on Monday and Tuesday.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Red Flag Warning from noon to 8 PM MDT Friday for COZ200-202- 203. UT...None.