Expires:No;;166830
FXUS65 KGJT 242357
AFDGJT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
457 PM MST Wed Dec 24 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Valley rain and mountain snow (above 9000 ft) will being this
  expand northward overnight. Rain and snow will continue into 
  the weekend with lulls from time to time.

- A Winter Weather Advisory remains in place for the eastern
  Uintas as gusty winds and snowfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches
  are expected.

- The next system will move through late Friday into Saturday
  bringing another round of more widespread precipitation. Keep
  an eye on the forecast this week as we hone in on potential 
  snowfall amounts and travel impacts.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 333 PM MST Wed Dec 24 2025

The forecast remains on track with valley rain and mountain 
snow above 9,000 feet expected tonight and tomorrow. Warm 
temperatures will keep snow levels high and snow ratios low, so 
despite the uptick in moisture to 300% of normal, we will not 
see a lot of impacts aside from slippery stretches over mountain
passes. The exception remains the eastern Uintas which will see
4 to 8 inches of snow with some stronger gusts upwards of 50 
mph, thus a Winter Weather Advisory remains in place above 9,000
feet.

&&

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

High elevation snow and valley rain is expected during through 
the weekend. On Friday increased moisture will advect into the 
region in southwesterly flow around a trough. This moisture does
not look to be as anomalous as our current midweek moisture 
push, but PWATs should still reach 175-200% of normal at the 
peak. In addition, forcing be more abundant as this moisture 
moves through, so precipitation could be more widespread. 

Not much precipitation is expected during the day Friday. 
However, by Friday evening the expected QPF increases, mostly 
north of I-70, as PVA from the incoming trough provides upper 
level support. High temperatures on Friday will be around 10 to 
20 degrees above normal, meaning only the very highest 
elevations will stay below freezing during the day. This will 
keep snow levels above 7kft. 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. 

On Sunday high temperatures will finally drop to near normal, 
but drier air moves in, so little precipitation is expected 
after the morning hours. Quiet weather and gradually warming 
temperatures is the forecast through the remainder of the long 
term.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 452 PM MST Wed Dec 24 2025

Valley rain and mountain snow showers begin across the region
tonight. Snow levels remain mostly above terminal elevations, so
expecting impacts to remain rain at the terminals. Lowered
ceilings and visibilities can be expected through much of this
period after midnight, with some improvement towards the very
end of this TAF period. Low ceilings and showers will likely
continue in the mountains beyond this period. Strong winds 
aloft will create LLWS at many of the terminals.

&&

.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...KAA
LONG TERM...GF
AVIATION...TGJT