Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
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344 FXUS65 KGJT 080957 AFDGJT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 257 AM MST Sat Nov 8 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Light snow will continue through the morning hours over the northern Divide Mountains with 1 to 3 inches mainly above 9,000 feet. Mountain passes may become slippery! - Dry conditions move in this weekend and remain in place for much of next week with temperatures warming to above normal. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... Issued at 257 AM MST Sat Nov 8 2025 Light snow began over the Park Range just after midnight as expected but not much appears to be sticking or accumulating at this time. We are seeing some weak lift associated with a shortwave moving through the northwest flow as an upper level trough remains parked across much of the eastern CONUS. A shortwave trough is moving through the northern High Plains, dragging the tail end of a cold front through northwest Colorado early this morning. Much of the forcing is northeast of our CWA, but the Park Range is clipped by the southern edge of a 100 kt upper level jet streak, so we are seeing some weak orographic lift across the Elkheads and Park Range which when combined with some weak low and mid level lapse rates, is resulting in some light snow according to cams at Steamboat Ski area. The latest model guidance has decreased snowfall amounts so we are now looking at 1 to 3 inches possible above 9,000 feet over the Park range and trace amounts for the Flattops and Vail Pass through the morning hours. Most shower activity should come to an end by noon as the jet and forcing associated with the shortwave trough moves further east and lifts out of our CWA. Some lingering light northwest orographic flow could produce a few flurries through early afternoon, but for the most part, conditions should be improving with skies clearing from the west as drier air moves in. High pressure will build out west and influence our weather this afternoon through the remainder of the weekend with northerly flow still overhead. Temperatures today will remain cooler like yesterday, with highs near seasonable for much of the area, although highs will be around 5 degrees below normal across the north and 5 degrees above normal across the south. We are expecting to warm up slightly by Sunday with dry conditions and highs around 5 degrees above normal. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... Issued at 257 AM MST Sat Nov 8 2025 High pressure remains in place with northwesterly flow aloft for much of the week ahead. Unseasonably warm and dry conditions follow suit. There is increasing potential for moisture from an Atmospheric River to arrive late in the week. Ensemble guidance shows considerable spread in the storm track and strength of this system, so confidence in the details is low at this time. However, it looks to be our best chance at widespread precipitation in well over a month. Stay tuned! && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 938 PM MST Fri Nov 7 2025 Mid and high level clouds will persist across the region through the late morning. After 18Z skies will begin to clear. Scattered snow showers are possible near KHDN through 12Z, but chances of TAF site impacts from snow remain low. VFR conditions are expected to prevail. Some stronger afternoon wind gusts are possible along the Divide near and near KDRO. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...MDA LONG TERM...KAA AVIATION...TGJT