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Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
Issued by NWS Grand Junction, CO
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358 FXUS65 KGJT 151750 AFDGJT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 1150 AM MDT Mon Jul 15 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Above normal temperatures continue today with another round of showers and thunderstorms developing from late morning through the afternoon and into the evening. Main threats from storms will be lightning, strong outflow winds and small hail. - Temperatures are expected to be closer to normal with daily thunderstorm chances during the remainder of the week and into the weekend as moisture is recycled under the area of high pressure over the region. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/... Issued at 349 AM MDT Mon Jul 15 2024 Nocturnal showers lingered during the early morning hours across the northern and southern portions of the forecast area. In the north, this activity appeared to be associated with a weak short wave trough moving eastward along the southern Wyoming border. Meanwhile, across the south there appeared to be a meso-vortex left over from evening convection to the south of the forecast area. Expect a few of these showers will persist through sunrise and adjusted forecast to account for propagation and slow dissipation of this activity. The center of the high pressure system drifted south of the forecast area and is expected to remain centered over the central AZ/NM border for the next 36 hours. GEFS indicated moisture levels currently in place will be quasi-static with precipitable water levels hovering near 0.75" through short term period which ranged from 100 to 140 percent of normal. At these levels localized heavy rain is possible, but excessive rainfall is unlikely. Storms redevelop from late morning into the early afternoon, forming over terrain, then drifting over adjacent valleys later in the day. Storms diminish in the evening, but it`s likely that some showers will continue into the early morning hours. Look for this scenario to play out again on Tuesday. Temperatures will be less hot, but still above normal today, then decrease closer to normal on Tuesday in response to increased clouds and showers. Tonight`s lows will continue to run milder than normal. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... Issued at 349 AM MDT Mon Jul 15 2024 High pressure continues to drive the forecast for eastern Utah and western Colorado through next weekend. With the aformentioned high centered over the Four Corners region on Wednesday and Thursday, high temperatures continue to remain around 5 degrees above normal for mid July. PWAT values remain about 150% of normal through this period leading to afternoon showers and storms in the mountains and enhanced cloud cover area wide. Model soundings continue to show the presence of a dry layer up to 10-15K feet which favors high-based thunderstorms capable of producing gusty outflow winds, very similar to what we`ve seen the last couple of days. A few storms may produce heavy rain, but the dry surface layer paired with PWAT values around 0.75" does not favor a widespread heavy rain threat. Looking ahead to Friday into the weekend, model spread increases but the general consensus is that the center of high pressure migrates slightly westward as an upper-level trough deepens across the eastern CONUS. This helps temperatures drop a few degrees back towards seasonal normals. The moisture forecast is more unresolved and will depend on how weather systems evolve east of the Divide and in the western Gulf. Right now ensemble data holds PWATs around 150% of normal, but about 25% of ECMWF Ens members show PWATs climbing above 1" next weekend. Something to keep an eye on as the week progresses. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1146 AM MDT Mon Jul 15 2024 A relatively quiet morning should lead to an uptick and shower and thunderstorm activity again this afternoon and evening. Limited coverage over most areas reduces confidence in impacts at most TAF sites where VCTS was used...with more confidence at KTEX. However most TAF sites have some probability of seeing gusty winds from nearby storms or from more organized outflow boundaries from farther storm complexes. Will amened TAF sites as these threats become more apparent from radar/satellite trends. Otherwise VFR should hold over the next 24 hours. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...NL LONG TERM...KAA AVIATION...GJT