Montrose, Colorado 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

708
FXUS65 KGJT 112319
AFDGJT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
519 PM MDT Sat Apr 11 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Unsettled weather continues Saturday into Tuesday, with
  widespread showers and thunderstorms in the forecast.

- A cold front arrives Monday, bringing mountain snow and colder
  temperatures to start the work week.

- Cooler and unsettled conditions look to stick around through
  much of the coming week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1142 AM MDT Sat Apr 11 2026

Today through Sunday:

Quite a change from 24 hours ago where scattered showers and
some isolated thunderstorms have developed across eastern Utah
this morning between 8 and 10 am and are beginning to spread
into western Colorado. There is extensive cloud cover across
eastern Utah with some clearing behind this first wave. Hi res
CAMs pick up on this activity with convection blossoming across
much of the area this afternoon, associated with a shortwave
moving through and a 90 kt jet streak setting up across western
Colorado with this disturbance. The forcing in addition to
instability with CAPE around 500 J/kg this afternoon would
support this if enough surface heating can take place this
afternoon unless this cloud shield over eastern Utah spreading
eastward inhibits it. Regardless, today looks to be active with
scattered to widespread showers and some thunderstorm activity.
Gusty outflow winds appear to be the primary concern with storm
activity today which could enhance the surface winds. Winds will
be breezy today with gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range for the
most part but the cloud cover may inhibit stronger gusts from
developing. Snow levels remain high, keeping accumulating snow at
or above pass level, with accumulations of 1-3 inches expected out
of this first round. Take care if traveling over the mountain passes
this evening, as even a light dusting of snow can create slick
roads and difficult driving conditions. Storm activity looks to
cease by sunset as drier air moves in behind this shortwave.
This will lead to a drier Sunday afternoon although still breezy
with gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range with stronger gusts
possible across northwest Colorado given the drier airmass but
continued southwest gradient as another low pressure trough
drops into the Great Basin with a 100 kt jet rounding the base
and pushing into Utah and the Four Corners by Sunday afternoon.
Cannot rule out some isolated showers popping up across the high
terrain Sunday afternoon due to lift and remnant moisture but
most areas should remain dry Sunday. Highs this weekend will
stay around 5 to 10 degrees above normal.

Cooler and unsettled Monday and Tuesday:

As the low pressure trough moves into the Great Basin Monday,
southwest flow will strengthen aloft out ahead of it with
showers and thunderstorms developing once again Monday
afternoon. These showers will become more widespread as the
trough axis approaches late Monday with the trough and cold
front moving through Monday night into Tuesday morning. Breezy
conditions remain Monday afternoon even though latest guidance
shows less wind than this weekend, but still anticipate gusts to
40 mph possible and could be enhanced by any convective
activity. Colder air arrives with this system with H7 temps
dropping to -5C but should be enough to result in better
snowfall across the mountain ranges. Still some uncertainty on
snowfall amounts but does appear the northern and central
Colorado mountains would be favored in this pattern due to
orographics and the track of the low. Temperatures drop to near
normal on Monday and 5 or so degrees below normal by Tuesday.

Mid to late week:

Another transient ridge is expected to move through Wednesday
into Thursday, bringing a brief return to warmer and drier
conditions. Models are indicating the potential for another
trough to drop down out of the Pacific Northwest to round out
the workweek, potentially resulting in another cool down to
below normal temperatures with another round of precipitation.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 516 PM MDT Sat Apr 11 2026

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue to impact the
region through around 04z, bring strong, gusty, and erratic wind
gusts. Gusts up to 45 knots have been recorded with these
storms, along with hail up to 0.50 inches in diameter. These
showers and storms could bring brief periods of MVFR/IFR
conditions. Activity should dissipate by 06z, with winds calming
down somewhat. Winds will remain southerly to southwesterly for
all but the most sheltered valleys, and remain around 10 knots
through the night. Skies clear by 06z, and remain clear through
the period. Gusty southerly to southwesterly winds return after
15z tomorrow, with widespread gusts up to 35 knots expected.
VFR conditions will prevail through the period.

&&

.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

CO...None.
UT...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...MDA/BGB
AVIATION...TGJT