Grand Junction, CO – A wave of wild spring weather is moving across Colorado, bringing dangerous fire conditions to the valleys and significant snow to the mountains through Sunday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, Red Flag Warnings remain in effect for the Montrose area and other parts of southern Colorado from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday due to strong southwesterly winds gusting between 35–45 mph. Wind Advisories are also active in multiple western valleys, heightening the risk for critical fire weather conditions.
Meanwhile, a cold front pushing through Friday evening will shift the focus to precipitation. Rain will begin in lower elevations and transition to mountain snow, with Winter Weather Advisories in place from Friday evening through Saturday. Higher elevations are expected to receive between 6 to 12 inches of snow, particularly impacting travel over mountain passes and backcountry areas.
Residents are urged to avoid open flames, secure outdoor items, and delay mountain travel until conditions improve. This sudden temperature drop follows an unseasonably warm start to the week, with highs earlier reaching 5 degrees above average. By Saturday, temperatures are expected to fall 10–15 degrees below normal, marking a sharp springtime reversal.
