GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – A sharp fall chill is set to sweep across western and southern Colorado beginning Monday night, with Freeze Watches now in effect for a large portion of the state through midweek. Sub-freezing temperatures could drop as low as 15°F in some valleys, marking the coldest air of the season so far.
According to the National Weather Service offices in Grand Junction and Pueblo, the Freeze Watch covers areas including Grand Junction, Montrose, Delta, Durango, Cortez, Canon City, and Springfield, with temperatures expected to fall below freezing from late Monday night through Wednesday morning. The coldest readings are forecast for the Four Corners region, Upper Dolores River Basin, and Eastern Fremont and Baca Counties, where lows may plunge into the teens.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture and emergency management officials urge residents to protect sensitive vegetation, cover outdoor faucets, and drain irrigation systems. Homeowners should also ensure pets and livestock have adequate shelter from the cold.
Drivers may encounter frost or light ice on windshields during the Tuesday and Wednesday morning commutes, particularly in sheltered valleys and canyons along U.S. 50, I-70, and U.S. 550.
Warmer air is expected to return late week as high pressure rebuilds across the Rockies, bringing sunny afternoons and more seasonal highs by Thursday and Friday.
