304
FXUS65 KGJT 161123
AFDGJT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
523 AM MDT THU APR 16 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED IN VARIOUS VALLEYS THIS
MORNING AND TONIGHT BEFORE A WIDESPREAD HARD FREEZE SETS IN
FRIDAY NIGHT.
- AFTER A BRIEF WARM UP, COLDER UNSETTLED WEATHER RETURNS TO THE
REGION TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.
- WARM WEATHER BUILDS BACK IN THIS WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK
WITH A RETURN OF UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES.
DISCUSSION
ISSUED AT 1051 PM MDT WED APR 15 2026
SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS THE NEXT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CURRENTLY
DESCENDING THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITH STRONG LOW-LEVEL WINDS
AHEAD OF IT ACROSS NORTHERN NEVADA, SOUTHEASTERN OREGON AND
SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO. MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH TIGHT PRESSURE
GRADIENTS THIS AREA AND A 100+ KT JET BETWEEN H400 AND H300 LAYERS.
THIS SYSTEM WILL TRACK TO THE EAST ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER WITH
THE ASSOCIATED TROUGH AND FRONTAL BOUNDARY PUSHING ACROSS EASTERN
UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO THIS EVENING INTO FRIDAY, BRINGING
WIDESPREAD SHOWERS TO THE REGION OVERNIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING.
AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM TODAY, EXPECT STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS
ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VALLEY AREAS WITH WIND
ADVISORIES IN EFFECT FOR ALL BUT THE GRAND VALLEY FROM 11 AM
THROUGH 2 AM TOMORROW.
LOOK FOR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE COLD
FRONT TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW WITH SNOW LEVELS DROPPING BELOW 5000
FEET. THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE BRIEF PERIODS OF LOW VISIBILITY AND
RAPIDLY CHANGING ROAD CONDITIONS IN POSSIBLE SNOW SQUALLS. IF YOU
PLAN TO DRIVE THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS DURING THIS TIME, ALLOW EXTRA
TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION. THIS SYSTEM DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF
MOISTURE WITH IT, SO WE EXPECT ONLY A FEW INCHES SNOW THROUGH THE
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS WITH AN INCH OR SO POSSIBLE IN THE
NORTHERN VALLEYS. THE LOWER VALLEYS, INCLUDING THE GRAND VALLEY,
WILL LIKELY SEE A DUSTING FRIDAY MORNING.
THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE HARD FREEZE FORECAST FRIDAY NIGHT INTO
SATURDAY MORNING AS THIS SYSTEM MOVES OFF TO THE EAST. MANY OF THE
VALLEYS ACROSS THE REGION WILL SEE TEMPERATURES TEN DEGREES OR MORE
BELOW NORMAL WITH MORNING LOWS IN THE TEENS TO UPPER 20'S. FREEZE
WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED AS WE GEAR UP FOR THIS IMPACTFUL EVENT.
LOOKING AHEAD:
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS BACK IN THIS WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT
WEEK RESULTING IN THE RETURN OF UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES.
AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/
ISSUED AT 520 AM MDT THU APR 16 2026
CLOUDS WILL GRADUALLY OVERSPREAD THE REGION FROM NORTHWEST TO
SOUTHEAST TODAY, WITH SKIES BECOMING BROKEN TO OVERCAST BY 00Z.
CEILINGS WILL GRADUALLY LOWER, BUT SHOULD REMAIN ABOVE
BREAKPOINTS THROUGH AT LEAST 06Z. WINDS WILL BE SOUTHERLY TO
SOUTHWESTERLY TODAY, WITH WIDESPREAD GUSTS OF 25-35 MPH THIS
AFTERNOON. A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH TONIGHT, AND RIGHT AHEAD
OF THE COLD FRONT, GUSTS UP TO 40 KNOTS WILL BE POSSIBLE. THE
FRONT WILL ALSO BRING RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS, BRINGING BRIEF
DROPS TO MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS AS CEILINGS LOWER AND VISIBILITY
IS REDUCED. WINDS SHIFT TO NORTHWESTERLY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT,
WITH ALL TERMINALS ALONG AND NORTH OF I-70 SWITCHING WIND
DIRECTION BY 12Z TOMORROW. VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL.
GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CO...WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR COZ001-002-007-008-011.
FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR
COZ001-002.
FREEZE WATCH FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR
COZ001-002-006>008-011-020>023.
FREEZE WARNING UNTIL 9 AM MDT THIS MORNING FOR COZ008-021>023.
UT...WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR UTZ024-027.
FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR
UTZ024.
FREEZE WATCH FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR
UTZ022-024-027-029.
DISCUSSION...DB/TGJT
AVIATION...TGJT
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page