Grand Junction and the wider Western Slope are expected to experience a week dominated by showers and thunderstorms, accompanied by a noticeable trend of cooler temperatures. The wet weather pattern begins this evening and is forecast to persist through Thursday, with daily chances for rain across Western Colorado.
Local weather outlooks indicate that this evening will be cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms, continuing even during overnight hours. On Monday, the region will see partly cloudy skies, with more widespread showers and thunderstorms in the morning before becoming scattered during the afternoon and evening.
For Grand Junction, morning lows on Monday are anticipated to be around 62 degrees, with temperatures increasing to the low to mid-70s by noon. Afternoon highs in the city are expected to reach approximately 82 degrees. Nearby communities will also experience similar conditions, with Montrose seeing morning lows around 57 degrees and afternoon highs near 80 degrees, and Delta expecting lows around 59 degrees and highs around 82 degrees.
The ongoing showers and thunderstorms through Thursday are attributed to an influx of abundant moisture flowing into the region from the Southwest. Forecasters note that Western Colorado has a 40%-50% chance of experiencing scattered showers and thunderstorms each day through the mid-week.
A significant concern with this weather pattern is the potential for heavy rain, which could lead to flash flooding. Areas most susceptible to flash flooding include creeks, streams, rivers, canyons, and any burn scars from previous wildfires. Residents are advised to maintain weather awareness, especially if planning to spend time near these vulnerable areas, and to have a reliable way to receive emergency alerts.
Rainfall totals through Monday are forecasted to range from 0.25 to 0.50 inches for valley areas, while higher elevations could see 0.50 to 1.00 inch of precipitation. Looking ahead through Thursday, additional rainfall is possible, with valley areas potentially receiving another 0.25 to 0.50 inches, and higher elevations possibly getting 0.50 to 0.75 inches more.
Beyond the rainfall, temperatures will generally trend cooler throughout the week. Highs through Friday are expected to be in the mid-70s to low-80s. Morning lows for the week will predominantly be in the 40s and 50s. Looking towards next weekend, temperatures are predicted to gradually increase, with highs returning to the upper 70s to mid-80s.
