845
FXUS65 KGJT 022347
AFDGJT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
547 PM MDT THU APR 2 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT FOR THE VALLEYS OF
EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO. A FREEZE WARNING IS IN
EFFECT.
- A COLD FRONT WILL DELIVER 6-12 INCHES OF NEW SNOW TO THE FLAT
TOPS, ELKHEADS, AND PARK RANGE TONIGHT, WITH LESSER AMOUNTS
DOWN INTO THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND SAN JUANS.
- FREEZE WATCHES CONTINUE SATURDAY MORNING FOR MOST VALLEYS ON
THE WEST SLOPE.
DISCUSSION
ISSUED AT 1257 PM MDT THU APR 2 2026
ROUND TWO OF WINTER'S RETURN
A QUICK MOVING COLD FRONT IS WORKING INTO THE REGION THIS
AFTERNOON. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AND SWIFT TEMPERATURE DROPS
HAVE ACCOMPANIED THIS FEATURE AS IT WORKS ACROSS WY/UT.
MEANWHILE, SURFACE WINDS REMAIN STRONG AHEAD OF THIS FEATURE
WITH NEARLY 100KTS OVERHEAD ON THE MORNING SOUNDING. ADDITIONAL
MOISTURE AND FAVORABLE OROGRAPHICS WILL WORK IN CONCERT THIS
EVENING AS THIS FEATURE WORKS ACROSS NORTHWEST COLORADO.
CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY LOOKS TO PRODUCE
SOME STRONGER SNOW RATES FROM AROUND 1800-0000 MDT. GIVEN THE
GUSTY WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW, FELT IT PRUDENT TO ISSUE A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THIS SHORT-LIVED, BUT BLUSTERY EVENT.
TRAVELERS ON HIGHWAY 40 COULD SEE SOME WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AS
THIS FEATURE WORKS THROUGH. ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL WILL STRETCH
DOWN INTO THE GORES, ELKS, SAWATCH, AND SAN JUANS WITH AMOUNTS
TAPERING SIGNIFICANTLY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 50. IMPACTS WILL REMAIN
CONFINED TO MOUNTAIN PASSES WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SOME SNOW
PACKED ROADS LIKELY OVERNIGHT. ADDITIONAL COLD AIR BEHIND THIS
FRONT WILL PRODUCE FREEZING TEMPERATURES IN LOW VALLEYS AGAIN
FRIDAY MORNING. FREEZE WARNINGS ARE IN PLACE THROUGH 1000 MDT
FRIDAY, WITH FREEZE WATCHES IN PLACE SATURDAY MORNING TOO.
WEEKEND OUTLOOK AND BEYOND
COLD AIR BEHIND THE FRONT WILL KEEP AREA TEMPERATURES COOL
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, WITH HIGHS NEARLY 10 DEGREES BELOW AVERAGE.
THIS IS 20-25 DEGREES COOLER THAN A WEEK AGO. AMPLE APRIL
SUNSHINE COMES TO THE RESCUE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AS WE GAIN
NEARLY 10 DEGREES EACH DAY, PUTTING US BACK OVER AVERAGE BY THE
START OF THE NEW WORK WEEK. ROLLERCOASTERS ARE FUN...RIGHT?
WARMER TEMPERATURES CONTINUE NEXT WEEK. A STORM IN THE PACIFIC
FLATTENS THE RIDGE MID WEEK AND POTENTIALLY SENDS A WAVE OR TWO
OF MOISTURE THROUGH. EARLY SOLUTIONS HINT AT ANOTHER ROUND OF
ACTIVE WEATHER THURSDAY AND BEYOND.
AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/
ISSUED AT 540 PM MDT THU APR 2 2026
A STORM SYSTEM ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO
SWEEP THROUGH THE AREA THIS EVENING INTO THE MORNING. THE
SHOWERS WILL CHANGE FROM RAIN TO SNOW AT A FEW SITES AND RESULT
IN IFR/MVFR CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT. SHOWERS COME TO AN END BY
SUNRISE AND CIGS SHOULD SCATTER OUT LATE MORNING. LLWS WILL
ALSO BE COMMON FOR KASE AND KTEX DUE TO THE STRONGER WINDS.
GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CO...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR COZ001-002-
005>008-011-020-021.
FREEZE WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM MDT FRIDAY FOR
COZ001-006>008-011-020>023.
FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING
FOR COZ001-006>008-011-020>023.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3 AM MDT FRIDAY FOR COZ004-013.
UT...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR UTZ024-027-029.
FREEZE WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM MDT FRIDAY FOR
UTZ024-027-029.
FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING
FOR UTZ024-027-029.
DISCUSSION...LTB
AVIATION...TGJT
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