576
FXUS65 KGJT 010545
AFDGJT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1145 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Drier air begins to move in today, limiting chances for
  showers and thunderstorms to the higher terrain this
  afternoon.

- Deep surface moisture will keep chances for heavy rain in the
  forecast, along with the potential for flash flooding and
  debris flows over recent burn scars and other vulnerable
  areas.

- Temperatures will warm through the end of the week, reaching
  near- normal by Friday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1027 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

Troughing along the West Coast and ridging across the Southeast will
keep eastern Utah and western Colorado under southwesterly flow
through the end of the work week. This will pull in drier air,
gradually reducing precipitation chances through the end of the week
as surface level moisture is scoured out. That said, chances for
showers and thunderstorms will remain each afternoon, primarily
across the higher terrain. Enough surface moisture is expected to
stick around Tuesday to keep the potential for heavy rain around, as
well the potential for flash flooding in vulnerable locations. As
drier air continues to push in, the main threat with storms will
transition to that of gusty outflow winds. Lightning will be a
threat throughout the period with any storm. Temperatures will warm
day by day as we dry out, reaching near-normal values by the end of
the work-week.

A strong closed low is forecast to drop out of the Gulf of Alaska by
the weekend, forcing the West Coast trough to retrograde slightly.
This will allow the Southeast ridge to also expand westward, and
ultimately the flow over eastern Utah and western Colorado will
shift to a more southerly direction. This will once again tap into
deeper monsoonal moisture, bringing a return to wetter and cooler
conditions. Ensemble and deterministic guidance does remain in
decent agreement regarding a plume of above normal PWATs reaching
eastern Utah and western Colorado by Saturday, but there does remain
some uncertainty. Changes with the tropical system activity in the
Pacific could substantially alter this forecast, so be sure to stay
tuned for updates on how this weekend`s forecast develops.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1135 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

CLouds will continue to drift eastward overnight. Clouds will
start lifting where broken to overcast skies are currently. By
morning, scattered to occasional broken skies will remain. Some
limited convection is possible in the afternoon but coverage
will be much less than that seen recently. Do not anticipate
any affects for TAF sites.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 1027 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

Although drier air begins to move into the region, lingering mid-
level moisture and daytime heating will keep afternoon thunderstorms
in the forecast for the higher terrain regions Tuesday. Hence, a
localized flash flooding threat remains. Recent burn scars and other
vulnerable terrain, including slot canyons, continue to be most
susceptible.

&&

.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

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

&&

$$

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