043
FXUS65 KGJT 280427
AFDGJT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
927 PM MST TUE JAN 27 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- A FEW INCHES OF SNOW IS ON TAP FOR THE NORTHERN COLORADO
MOUNTAINS LATE WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. SLIPPERY STRETCHES
WILL DEVELOP OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES.
- WARMING DAYS, COOL NIGHTS, AND DRY WEATHER PERSIST THROUGH
THE WEEKEND FOR MOST.
- A PATTERN CHANGE IS POSSIBLE EARLY NEXT WEEK.
SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/
ISSUED AT 145 PM MST TUE JAN 27 2026
A FAST-MOVING SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL CLIP NORTHEAST UTAH AND
NORTHWEST COLORADO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING A
NICE UPTICK IN SYNOPTIC FORCING AND ENOUGH MOISTURE TO THE
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS FOR A QUICK-HITTING ROUND OF MOUNTAIN SNOW.
ALTHOUGH MOISTURE WILL NOT BE PLENTIFUL, THERE IS A 40-60%
CHANCE FOR 4"+ OF MOUNTAIN SNOW ALONG THE SPINE OF THE PARK
RANGE WITH ADJACENT MOUNTAIN RANGES SEEING 1-3" OF LIGHT, FLUFFY
SNOW. SLIPPERY STRETCHES WILL DEVELOP OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES,
ESPECIALLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING.
ELSEWHERE, WINDS WILL PICK UP AS THIS SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH BUT
DRY WEATHER PERSISTS.
LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/
ISSUED AT 145 PM MST TUE JAN 27 2026
LIGHT MOUNTAIN SNOWFALL LOOKS TO CONTINUE DUE TO FAVORED
OROGRAPHICS THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON OVER THE NW COLORADO
MOUNTAINS AS A SHORTWAVE EXITS THE REGION BUT ANY ADDITIONAL
ACCUMULATIONS APPEAR MINIMAL.
HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE REMAINS ACROSS THE WEST WITH NORTHWEST FLOW
OVERHEAD THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK, WITH FAIRLY BENIGN
WEATHER ASIDE FROM THE LIGHT OROGRAPHIC SNOW PERIODICALLY OVER
THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AS THESE WEAK SHORTWAVES RIDE UP AND OVER
THE RIDGE AND DOWN THE FRONT RANGE AND PLAINS, CLIPPING OUR
NORTHWEST PARK RANGE MOUNTAINS. THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL
PUSH FURTHER EAST INTO THE GREAT BASIN THIS WEEKEND WITH THE
RIDGE AXIS SLIDING OVERHEAD BY MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK, SO MOSTLY
DRY CONDITIONS REMAIN WITH TEMPERATURES MODERATING TO AROUND 10
DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL DURING THIS TIME. THE RIDGE DOES SHOW SIGNS
OF BREAKING DOWN WITH A TROUGH ENTERING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
AND INTERMOUNTAIN WEST EARLY NEXT WEEK BEFORE TRACKING ACROSS
THE AREA. THERE IS STILL QUITE A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY THOUGH AS
LATEST MODEL RUNS ARE FURTHER NORTH WITH THIS TROUGH BUT
UNSETTLED WEATHER DOES LOOK PROBABLE FOR AT LEAST THE MOUNTAINS
EARLY NEXT WEEK.
AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/
ISSUED AT 927 PM MST TUE JAN 27 2026
VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS WITH LIGHT,
TERRAIN DRIVEN WINDS. HIGH CLOUDS WILL DRIFT OVERHEAD TONIGHT
AND LOWER TO NEAR MOUNTAIN TOP LEVEL BY TOMORROW AFTERNOON
ACROSS THE NORTH AS THE NEXT STORM STORM APPROACHES THE AREA.
GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CO...NONE.
UT...NONE.
SHORT TERM...KAA
LONG TERM...MDA
AVIATION...TGJT
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