258
FXUS65 KGJT 031205
AFDGJT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
605 AM MDT FRI APR 3 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 AND A FEW MORE MAY BE NEEDED INTO SUNDAY.
- DRIER AND WARMER CONDITIONS WILL START THE NEW WEEK WITH A
STORMIER END TO THE WEEK.
UPDATE
ISSUED AT 323 AM MDT FRI APR 3 2026
SOME LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVER THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND
FLAT TOPS BUT SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED. FOR
THIS REASON, THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO
EXPIRE.
DISCUSSION
ISSUED AT 1023 PM MDT THU APR 2 2026
ANOTHER FRONT WITH A GOOD PUNCH IS MOVING THROUGH THE SOUTHERN
CWA LATE THIS EVENING. ALONG AND BEHIND THE FRONT WE HAVE HAD
GUSTS TO 55 MPH...LIGHTNING AND MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW RATES.
THE THUNDERSTORMS AND WINDS HAVE BACKED OFF A BIT BUT LIFT OVER
THIS FRONT IS LEADING TO A WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION SHIELD
ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF OUR CWA. JUST LOOKING AT WEBCAMS AND
GUESSTIMATING...2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW HAS FALLEN ALONG THE
HIGHWAY 13 AND 40 CORRIDORS...WITH MAYBELL TO STEAMBOAT MOSTLY
SNOWPACKED. RABBIT EARS IS ALSO SNOW PACKED AND CONDITIONS ARE
LIKELY TO DETERIORATE UP VAIL PASS SHORTLY. FREEZE CONDITIONS
ARE MORE LIKELY UP NORTH WHERE THE COLD AIR IS LOCKED IN NORTH
OF THE HIGH PLATEAUS. FARTHER SOUTH POST FRONTAL WINDS AND
CLOUDS MAY LINGER LONG ENOUGH TO KEEP THINGS FROM DROPPING BELOW
FREEZING FOR TOO LONG IF AT ALL. TOMORROW NIGHT IS A DIFFERENT
STORY. THE ASCENT AND FRONTAL LIFTING WANES THROUGH THE EARLY
MORNING HOURS SO MUCH OF THIS PRECIPITATION SHIELD WILL BE
SHRINKING. WRAP AROUND MOISTURE FROM THE PARENT LOW OVER THE
NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS WILL KEEP LIGHT SNOW OVER THE NORTHERN
MOUNTAINS THROUGH THE DAY WITH LITTLE ACCUMULATION AND IMPACTS.
TEMPERATURES SETTLE BACK 10 TO 15 DEGREES COLDER THAN YESTERDAY
IN THE POST FRONTAL REGIME. LIGHTER WINDS AND CLEAR SKIES
TOMORROW NIGHT SHOULD BE EFFICIENT AT DROPPING TEMPERATURES
BELOW FREEZING. RIDGING BUILDS BACK OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST
ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND WE GAIN NEARLY 10 DEGREES OF WARMING
EACH DAY. WARMER TEMPERATURES CONTINUE FOR MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. A
NORTHERN STREAM SYSTEM DROPPING THROUGH THE NORTHERN STATES
FLATTENS THE RIDGE MID WEEK FOLLOWED BY A PACIFIC SYSTEM MOVING
INLAND UPSTREAM OVER CALI. EARLY SOLUTIONS HINT AT ANOTHER
ROUND OF ACTIVE WEATHER THURSDAY INTO THE WEEKEND.
AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/
ISSUED AT 546 AM MDT FRI APR 3 2026
PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE PASSING STORM SYSTEM HAS
MOSTLY ENDED. LINGERING SNOW SHOWERS PERSIST AT KTEX, BUT SHOULD
END DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE
TODAY NEAR KHDN. MVFR TO LIFR CONDITIONS AND DROPS BELOW ILS
BREAKPOINTS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR SO, PRIMARILY AT
KTEX. CEILINGS WILL CONTINUE TO LIFT THROUGH THE MORNING AS THE
SYSTEM MOVES OUT OF THE AREA. GUSTY WINDS WILL OCCUR THIS
AFTERNOON AT MOST SITES. SKC IS EXPECTED BY THIS EVENING.
GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CO...FREEZE WARNING UNTIL 10 AM MDT THIS MORNING FOR COZ001-006>008-
011-020>023.
FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR
COZ001-006>008-011-020>023.
UT...FREEZE WARNING UNTIL 10 AM MDT THIS MORNING FOR UTZ024-027-029.
FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR
UTZ024-027-029.
UPDATE...GF
DISCUSSION...TGJT
AVIATION...TGJT
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