Windy conditions for western Colorado ahead of Christmas storms

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Sixty degree temperatures are holding strong for the western slope as Christmas Eve approaches with rain expected tomorrow night. Today, partly sunny skies and breezy conditions are the main story for the Grand Valley. Tonight, expect cloud coverage to push in and overnight lows sitting in the low forties.

Another day of record warm temperature is expected despite increased cloud cover. Light rain and snow is expected to begin as soon as Wednesday morning expanding northward through the day. Precipitation will continue into the weekend with lulls from time to time. Snow levels will be around 10,000 ft Thursday, but will drop Friday and Saturday which may bring some snow to some valleys. Confidence remains low with regards to snow amounts on Friday and Saturday so keep checking the latest forecast for those details.

High pressure is building across the central United States. As the high pressure system to the south that was keeping the region dry and advecting warm air into the region pushes to the east, it’s allowing the moisture that’s building along the west coast the opportunity to push into western Colorado just in time for Christmas. Continued southwest flow will keep well above normal temperatures in the forecast today with more records being broken.

Yesterday saw the daily high record broken by nearly 10 degrees. Today, it is likely Grand Junction will either set a new daily record or tie the one that was set all the way back in 1955. The San Juans may see some light precipitation tomorrow morning, but models indicate the northern areas of the forecasting region won’t see any moisture until the night of Christmas Eve.

According to the National Weather Service, warm temperatures will limit snow production below 9,500 feet with a bulk of the winter travel impacts expected above 10,000 feet. The southwesterly AR feed will favor the San Juan mountains, but all area mountain ranges are anticipated to receive a dose of rain and snow. A lack of synoptic forcing will limit valley rain with much of the precipitation being forced via orographics, with the exception of the Four Corners region and valleys in the foothills of the San Juans.

Overall, expect a warm, wet, and cloudy Christmas Day with slippery to hazardous travel over mountain passes and a relatively nice day today.

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