629
FXUS65 KGJT 100447
AFDGJT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
947 PM MST Tue Dec 9 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Snow showers are likely today and Wednesday in the northern
  Colorado mountains. 4-8 inches of snow are possible at pass
  level with higher amounts at higher elevations.

- Strong gusts of 30-50 mph are possible today through
  Wednesday across mountain ranges.

- A warming trend is expected over the coming days. Some
  locations may see high temperatures reach 15-20 degrees above
  normal.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 152 PM MST Tue Dec 9 2025

Pacific moisture continues to stream through the northwestern
CONUS this afternoon per satellite imagery. This stream is
clipping the northeastern corner of our CWA resulting in dense
cloud cover, but not much else... yet. Northwesterly flow will
eventually be favorable for snow over the Park Range, Elkheads,
and Flat Tops, and we are anticipating this snowfall to begin
over the coming hours. The northwesterly flow is a result of a
broad trough over the eastern CONUS and a broad ridge off the
west coast, and deterministic models are suggesting each will be
stubborn to move through tomorrow. This should keep steady a
steady snowfall over northern Colorado through Wednesday
afternoon as a result. 6-12 inches of accumulation are possible,
but should stay confined to above 9000 ft. This puts the
greatest impacts to near or above pass level. Due to the
relatively confined coverage of the heaviest snowfall, we have
opted to forgo any winter weather highlights this time around.
That being said, travel impacts are still possible as snowfall
could total 4-8 inches over Rabbit Ears Pass, and slick roads
will remain a concern at lower elevations. As always, stay aware
of current weather conditions before attempting to travel
through affected areas.

An additional concern through the short-term forecast will be strong
gusts. The tighter pressure gradient between the aforementioned
trough and ridge will remain mostly to our north and east, but gusts
across our snowy northern mountains and passes could still reach 35-
50 mph through Wednesday. Central and southern Colorado mountain
ranges will see stronger winds as well with gusts up to 30-40 mph
here. Thus, blowing snow could become a concern across the higher
elevations through Wednesday.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Issued at 152 PM MST Tue Dec 9 2025

Northwest flow remains in place through the end of the period. The
plume of moisture shifts north of the area, but may continue to
bring periodic clouds. The ridge centered over the eastern Pacific
may move inland and end up over the Intermountain West. This will
keep us dry and warm. Much of the area will see multiple days of
high temperatures 15-20 degrees above normal for mid-December.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 943 PM MST Tue Dec 9 2025

A frontal boundary draped across portions of northwest Colorado
is responsible for breakpoint conditions at mountain terminals,
including KASE, KEGE, and KHDN. Rain and snow showers are
expected on the northern mountains of Colorado through the early
morning hours. This feature will lift northward enough for
improvements at KASE and KEGE Wednesday afternoon, while KHDN
will remain under a cloud deck into the late afternoon, as cloud
cover gets trapped against the Divide. Elsewhere, VFR
conditions with light winds under high pressure will continue
through the period.

&&

.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...BW
LONG TERM...KJS
AVIATION...TGJT