How Cold Could Grand Junction, Colorado Really Get This Winter?

Just when you think you have winter figured out in the Grand Valley, it changes. One morning, you are looking at the monument through a frosty window, and the next week, you are scraping ice from your windshield.

The question on all of our minds for 2025 is: How cold will it actually get on the Western Slope this winter? Keep scrolling for a look back at Grand Junction’s cold-weather history, what the forecasts indicate, and when to expect a deep freeze.

How Cold Can You Expect?

Read More: Is Western Colorado in for a Snowy, Cold Winter?

Winter here in Grand Junction usually means overnight lows in the teens, and a few dips into single-digit territory during Arctic invasions. It usually takes until December for the cold to arrive, and by January, the average low is about 21 degrees according to Weather Spark.

Temps can drop to extremes, however, like on January 13, 1963, when Grand Junction dropped to -23 degrees overnight, according to Extreme Weather Watch. So while sub-zero nights aren’t impossible, they do seem rare for the valley floor.

When Will the Coldest Spells Hit?

Read More: Can You Catch a Cold Having Wet Hair Outside During Winter?

Over the last five years, the Grand Valley has experienced the coldest temperatures in January. Western Colorado tends to experience an arctic blast following the New Year and again at the end of the month. The first few cold snaps will arrive in December, but the coldest air shows up in January.

February temps can also get bitterly cold, but they tend to be shorter cold spells that are less frequent. OpenSnow is calling for above-normal winter temperatures for Western Colorado, which could mean fewer extreme freeze events.

Snowfall: What to Expect

Our Grand Junction wiki says the town averages about 18 inches of snow each winter. Looking back at snow totals from ExtremeWeatherWatch shows us that in the last decade, Grand Junction has only made it to 18 inches twice. Thankfully, when we do see snow, it’s the kind you can move with a broom.

While we may only average 18 inches in the Valley, a successful snowpack on places like the Grand Mesa is over 400 inches. For the winter of 2025-2025, OnTheSnow predicts average snow totals in the mountains this winter.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac expects the colder weather to arrive earlier this year. The Farmer’s Almanac is leaning towards milder temps and above-average precipitation.

Get our free mobile app