505
FXUS65 KGJT 192318
AFDGJT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
518 PM MDT SUN APR 19 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- SOME HIGH VALLEYS WILL EXPERIENCE SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES
AGAIN TONIGHT.
- SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE SOUTHERN AND
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
- WIND GUSTS OF 40-55 MPH WILL BE COMMON ACROSS THE AREA ON
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
DISCUSSION
ISSUED AT 1018 AM MDT SUN APR 19 2026
SYNOPTIC SCALE RIDGING HAS BEGUN TO AMPLIFY OVER THE REGION, WITH
A CLOSED LOW STILL SITUATED OFF THE WEST COAST. THE SUBSIDENCE
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RIDGE WILL SUPPRESS CLOUD COVER FOR THE DAY AND
INITIATE A WARMING TREND FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK, PUSHING
TEMPERATURES ABOVE THE SEASONAL AVERAGE.
MOISTURE WILL ADVECT INTO THE FOUR CORNERS AREA EARLY MONDAY. THIS
MOISTURE LINGERS OVER THE AREA THROUGH TUESDAY LOOKING TO BRING
ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED AFTERNOON SHOWERS FOR THE SOUTHERN AND
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AS WELL
MONDAY AFTERNOON. ASIDE FROM THAT, EXPECT TEMPERATURES TO WARM TO 10-
15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
ATTENTION THEN SHIFTS TO THE CLOSED LOW CONTINUING TO PUSH TOWARDS
THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST WEDNESDAY. AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM, PRESSURE
GRADIENT CONTOURS WILL BE TIGHTLY PACKED ALOFT, MAKING FOR STRONG
UPPER LEVEL WINDS. EXPECT THOSE STRONG UPPER LEVEL WINDS TO MIX DOWN
TO THE SURFACE MAKING FOR PERIODS OF WINDS GUSTING 40 TO 55 MPH
THROUGH MOST OF THE VALLEYS ACROSS THE REGION.
PATTERN SHIFT LATE WEEK:
MOVING FORWARD, A COOLER AND WETTER WEATHER PATTERN WILL BE USHERED
IN THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OUT WEST. IT WILL BRING BACK TEMPERATURES
SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL AND HIGHER ELEVATION SNOWFALL FOR THE NORTHERN
AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. IMPACTS FOR THIS LATE
WEEK EVENT LOOK TO BE MORE BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES FOR THE HIGH
VALLEYS AND TEMPORARY WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS OVER SOME OF THE
MOUNTAIN PASSES.
AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/
ISSUED AT 518 PM MDT SUN APR 19 2026
PASSING HIGH CLOUDINESS CAN BE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT UNDER A LIGHT
DOWN TERRAIN WIND PATTERN. ADDITIONAL MOISTURE ARRIVES TOMORROW
MORNING ACROSS THE SOUTH WHICH WILL LEAD TO MOUNTAIN SHOWERS
WITH A SMALL PROBABILITY AT KTEX IN THE TAFS FOR NOW. OTHERWISE
DRY AND LIGHT WINDS EXPECTED ON MONDAY AS WELL.
GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CO...FREEZE WARNING FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM MDT MONDAY FOR
COZ002-008.
UT...NONE.
DISCUSSION...TGJT
AVIATION...TGJT
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