FXUS65 KGJT 191720
AFDGJT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1120 AM MDT Tue May 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Freezing temperatures will impact the lower basins of
  northwest Colorado and northeast Utah Tuesday and Wednesday
  morning. Freeze Warnings are in effect for both mornings.

- Temperatures will start to warm Tuesday onward, finally
  reaching near-to-above normal levels Thursday and Friday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1002 PM MDT Mon May 18 2026

FREEZE WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

Radar returns are diminishing across the area though a stray
shower along the I-70 corridor and areas just north can't be
ruled out. Clearing skies will allow temperatures to drop thanks
to the cold front that passed through yesterday. Freeze Warnings
remain in effect for the Uinta Basin and northern valleys.
Portions of the I-70 corridor may reach freezing or just below
but coverage and timing won't last long enough to warrant any
highlights there. Same for the southern valleys. The Freeze
Watch for Tuesday night into Wednesday has been upgraded to a
Warning with this evening's package for the northern valleys as
models have not deviated from sub-freezing temperatures there.

RELATIVELY QUIET WEATHER, SLOW WARMUP:

An upper level trough will remain draped over the area through
the end of the week but with drier air moving in, little in the
way of precip is expected. Might see an odd shower over the
higher terrain but for the most part we can expect partly cloudy
skies as below normal highs Tuesday and Wednesday reach normal
values towards the end of the week and above normal highs
heading into the weekend. The next chance for precipitation
looks to be Thursday afternoon through Friday morning as a
system drops down from the north.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1117 AM MDT Tue May 19 2026

Moisture trapped in the higher elevation valleys has kept low
stratus in place through midday. For KEGE and KASE, this stratus
isn't likely to lift above ILS breakpoints through the next 24
hours. For other terminals, stratus will lift in the next 1-3
hours, if it hasn't already, and will remain as mid to high
level clouds through 06z. After this point, low stratus is
expected to redevelop across the area, with some locations
dropping below breakpoints, at least periodically. Southwesterly
afternoon winds will gust to around 20 knots before becoming
light and terrain driven after 03z. VFR conditions will prevail,
but drops to MVFR under low ceilings will be possible, mainly
after 00z this evening.

&&

.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

CO...Freeze Warning from 1 AM to 9 AM MDT Wednesday for COZ001-002.
UT...None.

&&

$$

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