textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Winter Weather Advisories in place through 1800 MDT this evening for San Juan Mountains.

- Freeze warnings in place for most of our valleys across western Colorado.

- Warmer, drier conditions return to the region Thursday. Temperatures surge well above normal Friday and beyond.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 112 PM MDT Wed May 6 2026

Drier air has begun to spread across the region from the northwest this morning. The morning sounding at Grand Junction depicts a strong capping inversion at the mid levels too. This is suppressing shower activity behind the cold front that has swept through today, bringing measurable snowfall across the mountains and some needed wetting rains to the valleys. Freeze Warnings remain in place for the valleys across western Colorado, including a newly added COZ020 for the Paradox valley. Winter Weather Advisories are still in place through 1800 MDT for the San Juans, as the front slowly exits across the Continental Divide. Monarch and Wolf Creek Passes continue to see some packed snow on their summits.

Tonight, skies will clear and cool conditions will settle across the region below a fresh snowpack. Dry, northwest flow will continue Thursday, with temperatures returning to near normal under clear skies. A weak clipper system works across the Elkheads and Park Range Thursday afternoon. Snow and rain impacts are expected to be near nil. High pressure slides into the driver seat Friday and temperatures surge upward in excess of 10 degrees above average. Temperature outlooks keep this trend in place with temperatures going even higher next week, as high pressure amplifies across the West.

Deterministic models keep weather conditions rather quiet heading into next week. The jet stream remains well to our north and the dominant ridge looks to stay in charge. A couple of disturbances threaten to flatten the ridge. This could produce some cloud cover, but little in the way of precipitation at this point. Temperature outlooks remain aggressively warm for next week. There is still time for this to evolve. Critical fire weather conditions become a target of concern as this hot and dry pattern emerges.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1143 AM MDT Wed May 6 2026

A broad area of showers is moving across the southern Colorado mountains. Impacts, including MVFR to LIFR conditions and ceilings below ILS breakpoints, are expected at KTEX for the next hour or so. A few isolated showers are possible near high elevation sites this afternoon. However, drier air behind the showers will lead to clear skies and widespread VFR conditions. Gusty winds are expected through the afternoon but winds will calm overnight.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM MDT Thursday for COZ001-002-007-008-011-020>023. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MDT this evening for COZ012- 018-019. UT...None.