Montrose, Colorado 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

118
FXUS65 KGJT 250758
AFDGJT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1258 AM MST Thu Dec 25 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Valley rain and mountain snow (above 9000 ft) is expected
  today. Impacts from snow will be limited to the mountain
  passes.

- The next round will move through late Friday into Sunday
  bringing another round of more widespread precipitation. Snow
  levels will be lower so travel impacts could reach some of
  the valleys.

- Conditions dry out on Monday and temperatures begin to rebound
  becoming above normal by mid week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1230 AM MST Thu Dec 25 2025

Highly anamolous moisture has arrived and it will continue to
advect in from the southwest through most of the day. As of now
there is little in the way of forcing, but later today there may
be some help from a weak piece of energy and jet streak. The
instability may also play a role in the showers today and can
not rule out a few thunderstorms. Expect mainly orographic
precipitation today with periods of more scattered showers at
times. Precipitation becomes more orographic again tonight. The
abnormally warm temperatures mean snow levels will hover around
10 kft. Even so, if travelling over mountain passes, be aware
that wet roads will be the rule, with maybe some snow/slushy
roads at the highest points.

A bit of a lull in precipitation rates is expected Thursday
night into Friday as we will be in between systems but light
mountain snowfall and valley rain looks to still continue
periodically with little in the way of accumulation. The next
push of moisture comes Friday evening with better dynamic
forcing Friday night into Saturday as a deep trough moves
through the Great Basin and across our area.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 333 PM MST Wed Dec 24 2025

Overnight Friday into Saturday precipitation chances increase
across the region as the trough axis approaches the CWA. On
Saturday morning a cold front will reach our area from the
north, providing lift, and dropping temperatures, thus also
dropping snow levels through the day. With the lowered snow
levels, and increased forcing, greater snow accumulations are in
the forecast for Saturday. However, model disagreement on
moisture timing and intensity, and consequently also snow
totals, lowers confidence on all of the specifics of this
weekend system.

Models show that the strong low pressure currently off the West
Coast will finally move through the area on Sunday. Moisture
looks to be on the decrease, but the forcing may keep showers
around. It does appear that by late Sunday locations begin to
dry out. The air mass this system brings will be much colder
than what we have been through lately. Monday morning could be
quite chilly especially for snow covered valleys if clouds
clear. Monday through mid week looks to be mainly dry with
temperatures warming back above normal by Tuesday.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1117 PM MST Wed Dec 24 2025

A plume of moisture will overcome the region early this morning,
bringing scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms around the
region on Christmas Day. Snow showers remain above 10,000 feet, so
most terminals will be impacted by rain and low ceilings throughout
this event. Strong winds aloft with the jet stream will contribute
to LLWS at many terminals. Breakpoint conditions will be likely
through the period, with some hints at improvement late Thursday
evening along the UT/CO line. However, moisture trapped against the
Divide will likely keep low ceilings at the mountain terminals into
Friday morning.

&&

.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

CO...None.
UT...Winter Weather Advisory until noon MST today for UTZ023.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...KJS
LONG TERM...GF
AVIATION...TGJT