textproduct: Grand Junction

KEY MESSAGES

- Sub-freezing temperatures are expected in various valleys this morning and tonight before a widespread hard freeze sets in Friday night.

- After a brief warm up, colder unsettled weather returns to the region tonight through Saturday morning.

- Warm weather builds back in this weekend into early next week with a return of unseasonably warm temperatures.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1051 PM MDT Wed Apr 15 2026

Satellite imagery shows the next low pressure system currently descending through the Pacific Northwest with strong low-level winds ahead of it across northern Nevada, southeastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho. Models are in good agreement with tight pressure gradients this area and a 100+ kt jet between H400 and H300 layers. This system will track to the east along the Canadian Border with the associated trough and frontal boundary pushing across eastern Utah and Western Colorado this evening into Friday, bringing widespread showers to the region overnight through Friday evening. Ahead of this system today, expect strong southwesterly winds across the northern and central valley areas with wind advisories in effect for all but the Grand Valley from 11 AM through 2 AM tomorrow.

Look for isolated to scattered embedded thunderstorms with the cold front tonight into tomorrow with snow levels dropping below 5000 feet. These storms may produce brief periods of low visibility and rapidly changing road conditions in possible snow squalls. If you plan to drive through the mountains during this time, allow extra time to reach your destination. This system doesn't have a lot of moisture with it, so we expect only a few inches snow through the northern and central mountains with an inch or so possible in the northern valleys. The lower valleys, including the Grand valley, will likely see a dusting Friday morning.

The primary concern is the hard freeze forecast Friday night into Saturday morning as this system moves off to the east. Many of the valleys across the region will see temperatures ten degrees or more below normal with morning lows in the teens to upper 20's. Freeze Watches have been issued as we gear up for this impactful event.

LOOKING AHEAD:

A ridge of high pressure builds back in this weekend into early next week resulting in the return of unseasonably warm temperatures.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 520 AM MDT Thu Apr 16 2026

Clouds will gradually overspread the region from northwest to southeast today, with skies becoming broken to overcast by 00z. Ceilings will gradually lower, but should remain above breakpoints through at least 06z. Winds will be southerly to southwesterly today, with widespread gusts of 25-35 mph this afternoon. A cold front moves through tonight, and right ahead of the cold front, gusts up to 40 knots will be possible. The front will also bring rain and snow showers, bringing brief drops to MVFR/IFR conditions as ceilings lower and visibility is reduced. Winds shift to northwesterly behind the cold front, with all terminals along and north of I-70 switching wind direction by 12z tomorrow. VFR conditions will prevail.

GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CO...Wind Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this evening for COZ001-002-007-008-011. Freeze Watch from late tonight through Friday morning for COZ001-002. Freeze Watch from Friday evening through Saturday morning for COZ001-002-006>008-011-020>023. Freeze Warning until 9 AM MDT this morning for COZ008-021>023. UT...Wind Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this evening for UTZ024-027. Freeze Watch from late tonight through Friday morning for UTZ024. Freeze Watch from Friday evening through Saturday morning for UTZ022-024-027-029.