Grand Junction, Colo. – Western Colorado stays locked in a late-summer pattern Tuesday with mostly dry skies and temperatures climbing about five degrees above average. While most communities remain warm and sunny, mountain towns could see storms bubble up by afternoon.
According to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely over the San Juan Mountains and along the Continental Divide later Tuesday. The San Juans, Gunnison, and Aspen areas face the highest risk of lightning and brief downpours, while valleys including Grand Junction, Montrose, and Rifle remain dry and unseasonably warm.
Travelers heading through the I-70 corridor and mountain passes should watch for rapidly changing conditions as storms develop, especially in the southern ranges. Lightning and localized heavy rain may reduce visibility and create slick conditions on mountain roads.
The NWS says this “rinse-and-repeat” weather pattern holds through Thursday, with widespread rain expected to arrive Friday into the weekend. Residents are urged to take advantage of the dry stretch to prepare for cooler, wetter conditions ahead.
