261
FXUS65 KGJT 202348
AFDGJT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
548 PM MDT MON APR 20 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- SHOWERS AND A FEW ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE
SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY
AFTERNOON.
- WIND GUSTS OF 40-55 MPH WILL BE COMMON ACROSS THE AREA ON
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AHEAD OF THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM.
- UNSETTLED...COOLER AND WETTER WEATHER...WILL MOVE IN LATE WEEK
INTO THE WEEKEND.
DISCUSSION
ISSUED AT 1230 PM MDT MON APR 20 2026
QUIET WEATHER
SOUTHERLY FLOW IS USHERING IN MOISTURE THAT MAY SUPPORT ISOLATED
SHOWERS OVER THE SAN JUANS THIS AFTERNOON. LINGERING MOSITURE ALONG
THE DIVIDE WILL THEN LEAD TO ANOTHER ROUND OF ISOLATED TO SCATTERED
CONVECTION TUESDAY AFTERNOON...THE WARMEST DAY OF THE FORECAST. MOST
OF THESE SHOWERS WILL ONLY PRODUCE VIRGA VERSUS ACTUAL WETTING RAIN.
ELSEWHERE WILL EXPERIENCE DRY CONDITIONS.
PATTERN SHIFT
A STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK OVER THE PACNW AND GREAT BASIN
TOMORROW AND WEDNESDAY. THIS CAUSES A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER
OUR AREA SO EXPECT A RATHER WINDY DAY ON WEDNESDAY. MOST VALLEYS
WILL GET WIND GUSTS AROUND 40-55 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. THE COLD
FRONT ARRIVES TO OUR NW CWA LATE IN THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY. THE WELL
MIXED ATMOSPHERE AHEAD OF THIS WILL LEAD TO HIGH BASED SHOWERS
ENHANCING THE WIND THREAT AND SOME HIGHER GUSTS WILL BE POSSIBLE.
THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE CWA WILL GET THE BULK OF THIS INITIAL
PART OF THE SYSTEM WITH SNOW ACROSS THE HIGH PEAKS OF THE
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS. AT THIS TIME IMPACTS WILL BE LIMITED TO
BRIEF WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS OVER THE PASSES.
THE FORECAST GETS MORE COMPLICATED BEYOND THAT AS SEVERAL PIECES OF
ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAIN LOW PRESSURE IMPACT THE AREA. SO
THIS WILL KEEP PRECIPITATION CHANCES GOING THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
DURING THIS TIME THE MOUNTAINS WILL BE FAVORED FOR PERIODS OF SNOW,
WHICH COULD IMPACT TRAVEL. SNOW LEVELS RANGE FROM ABOUT 6-8 KFT AND
PERHAPS LOWER AT NIGHT. THE HIGHEST CHANCES MAY BE ON SUNDAY AS A
LOW PRESSURE OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA GETS ABSORBED INTO THE
TROUGH CAUSING IT TO TRACK NEAR OUR AREA. THIS WOULD RESULT IN MORE
WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION. TEMPERATURES THROUGH THIS ACTIVE PERIOD
WILL BE BELOW NORMAL.
AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/
ISSUED AT 541 PM MDT MON APR 20 2026
WINDS ARE CALMING ACROSS THE REGION, AND ARE GENERALLY EXPECTED
TO BE LIGHT OVERNIGHT. SOME SHOWERS WILL LINGER NEAR KTEX UNTIL
AROUND 01Z. SKIES WILL BECOME MOSTLY CLEAR TONIGHT, BUT CLOUD
COVER WILL INCREASE TOMORROW AFTERNOON. VFR CONDITIONS WILL
PREVAIL.
FIRE WEATHER
ISSUED AT 313 PM MDT MON APR 20 2026
ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON MANY LOCATIONS BELOW 7,000 FEET WILL
EXPERIENCE RH BELOW 15% WITH WINDS SPEEDS ABOVE 25 MPH. FUELS
HAVE BEEN DEEMED NOT CRITICAL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NORTHWEST
COLORADO. THE MINIMUM RH IS MORE LIKE 15-20% IN THESE AREAS, SO
THE COVERAGE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ISSUE A RED FLAG WARNING AT
THIS TIME.
GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CO...WIND ADVISORY FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM MDT WEDNESDAY FOR COZ001-002-
006>008-011-020>022.
UT...WIND ADVISORY FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM MDT WEDNESDAY FOR UTZ022-024-
027-029.
DISCUSSION...TGJT
AVIATION...TGJT
FIRE WEATHER...TGJT
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