039
FXUS65 KGJT 292321
AFDGJT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
421 PM MST THU JAN 29 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- EXPECT LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WITH AN INCH OF NEW SNOW POSSIBLE
OVER THE PARK AND GORE RANGES TONIGHT AND AGAIN TOMORROW
NIGHT.
- WARMING DAYS, COOL NIGHTS WITH DRY WEATHER PERSIST THROUGH THE
WEEKEND AND MOST OF NEXT WEEK FOR MOST OF THE REGION.
SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/
ISSUED AT 117 PM MST THU JAN 29 2026
MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATING THE
RIDGE MOVING INLAND OFF THE EASTERN PACIFIC INTO THE GREAT BASIN.
WITH THE TROUGHING TO THE EAST OVER THE GREAT PLAINS, EASTERN UTAH
AND WESTERN COLORADO WILL REMAIN UNDER A NORTH TO NORTHWESTERLY FLOW
ALOFT THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. LIGHT SNOW CONTINUES ALONG THE PARK
RANGE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON THAT COULD RESULT IN ANOTHER INCH OR
TWO OF SNOW ON THE HIGHER PEAKS BY THIS EVENING. A COUPLE WEAK
DISTURBANCES, THE FIRST TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING BRINGS A SLIGHT
CHANCE FOR SNOW SHOWERS TO THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL COLORADO
MOUNTAINS, AND THE SECOND, FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING BRINGS
BETTER CHANCES FOR SNOW SHOWERS TO THE SAME AREAS. EACH OF THESE
WAVES COULD RESULT IN YET ANOTHER INCH OF SNOW ACCUMULATION. WE WILL
SEE TEMPERATURES TO START WARMING A FEW DEGREES EACH DAY UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF THE RIDGE MOVING IN FROM THE WEST. ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE
REGION, EXPECT FAIR WEATHER UNDER MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES. LOOK FOR THE
HIGHS THIS AFTERNOON RUNNING A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL, WARMING TO
ABOUT FIVE DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL FRIDAY.
LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/
ISSUED AT 117 PM MST THU JAN 29 2026
AS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR MUCH OF THIS WINTER, EASTERN UTAH AND
WESTERN COLORADO WILL BE UNDER NORTHWESTERLY FLOW, SANDWICHED
BETWEEN A RIDGE TO THE WEST AND A TROUGH TO THE EAST. PASSING WAVES
IN THE FLOW ALOFT WILL BRING PERIODS OF INCREASED CLOUDS AND SOME
SNOW SHOWERS TO THE NORTHERN, AND PERHAPS CENTRAL, DIVIDE MOUNTAINS.
MODELS ARE GROWING INCREASINGLY CONFIDENT THAT A REX BLOCK WILL SET
UP OVER THE WEST COAST EARLY NEXT WEEK, WITH A LOW OVER BAJA
CALIFORNIA, AND A HIGH CENTERED OVER NEVADA. THIS WOULD KEEP US
SUNNY AND DRY, DEFLECTING ANY POTENTIAL SYSTEMS TO OUR NORTH AND
EAST. A GRADUAL WARMING TREND IS EXPECTED THROUGH THE LONG TERM
PERIOD, WITH TEMPERATURES STARTING OUT NEAR NORMAL AND CLIMBING TO 5-
10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.
AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/
ISSUED AT 420 PM MST THU JAN 29 2026
HIGH CLOUDS WILL CONTINUE TO PASS OVER THE REGION, WITH SOME
MID-LEVEL CLOUDS CLOSE TO THE NORTHERN DIVIDE MOUNTAINS. THESE
SHOULD NOT IMPACT AIRPORT OPERATIONS. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT AND
FOLLOW TYPICAL TERRAIN DRIVEN PATTERNS. VFR CONDITIONS WILL
PREVAIL.
GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CO...NONE.
UT...NONE.
SHORT TERM...DB
LONG TERM...BGB
AVIATION...TGJT
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