843 FXUS65 KGJT 210526 AFDGJTArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 1126 PM MDT Sat Sep 20 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Scattered showers and storms are expected each day through Monday.
- Localized moderate rainfall, gusty winds and small hail are all possible with these showers.
- Drier air returns Tuesday with the next chances for precipitation possible next weekend.
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.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 1251 PM MDT Sat Sep 20 2025
General westerly flow within a plume of moisture as well as peak heating has resulted in scattered showers and storms across the area. The instability is rather limited especially north of I-70 where clouds have been most of the day. Across the south partly cloudy skies has allowed more thunderstorm development. Given the cape is not much these storms should not cause too many impacts other than localized moderate rainfall. Wind gusts around 30 mph are possible from any of these showers. Activity should become more isolated after sunset with a focus north of I-70 overnight. Tomorrow the ridge builds over the area, although the moisture stays in place. Scattered showers and storms are expected once again mainly in the northern CWA, which is closer to the forcing from a shortwave tracking over Wyoming. Impacts look to be minimal and the high terrain will be favored much like today. The building ridge causes temperatures to rise a few degrees overall tomorrow, but in general we are right around normal for this time of year.
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.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Issued at 1251 PM MDT Sat Sep 20 2025
Still a bit of uncertainty as model solutions are different on Monday than 24 hours ago. A low pressure trough was expected to deepen over the Desert Southwest, pulling up deep moisture from the southwest into the region but now it appears like the trough from the northwest will keep that moisture shunted south of the region as high pressure holds firm south of the area. This will also allow the low to get cut off from the main flow and keep it off the SoCal coast. We are still expecting scattered to more widespread showers and thunderstorms on Monday, but it may favor the northern and central areas as opposed to the south as a shortwave trough from the northwest moves across the northern half of the area and the jet on the backside drives in some drier air from the northwest by late Monday afternoon into the evening. So coverage may not be as robust as before. Best chances of wetting rain appear to be across areas north of I-70 with high terrain being more favored. This shortwave trough will pass with high pressure bringing drier air by Tuesday, although some isolated showers and storms remain possible along the Divide. Otherwise, conditions overall should be improving. Much of the rest of the week appears to be on the dry side as high pressure ridge slides overhead. However, that cut off low off the SoCal coast could be a player in the weather late in the week as both the GFS and ECMWF are indicating this low lifting northward and tracking east through the Great Basin, potentially bringing in some moisture by late next week. Confidence is low though this far out as models have a tendency to change in these shoulder seasons. Temperatures will be 5 to 10 degrees below normal Monday and Tuesday with a warm up to near normal levels for the remainder of the week.
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.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1122 PM MDT Sat Sep 20 2025
A few showers and storms remain across the area currently but coverage will decrease as we head towards daybreak. A few showers and storms are expected across the northern valleys this afternoon with little expected elsewhere. Even so, a quick popup can`t be ruled out over higher terrain. That being said, did include PROB30 group for KHDN Sunday afternoon for -TSRA. Remaining TAF sites will see SCT to BKN skies through the day as VFR remains in place.
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.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CO...None. UT...None.
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SHORT TERM...KJS LONG TERM...MDA AVIATION...TGJT
NWS GJT Office Area Forecast Discussion