See What Western Colorado Can Expect For The Rest Of Winter

If the current winter season has felt a little strange in Grand Junction and Montrose this year, you are not imagining it. Snowpack across the Western Slope is running well below average, with several basins reporting less than half the normal levels by mid-January.

With just under two months left in the winter season, Colorado’s concerns over water supply are rising. La Niña is still holding on in the Pacific, but long-range forecasts suggest winter still may have a few tricks left. Here’s a look at what conditions in Western Colorado might look like for the second half of winter.

What We’ve Seen So Far—and Why Climate Patterns Matter

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While snow has been falling on the Grand Mesa and in the San Juan Mountains, some parts of Western Colorado are feeling like winter has yet to really arrive. 2026 has been significantly warmer and drier, resulting in snowpacks at record-low levels.

The National Weather Service had hoped the weakening La Niña pattern in place would transition toward neutral conditions in 2026, but that has not happened. La Niña is still expected to fade, but will it happen too late in the season for Colorado’s snow machine to kick in?

February Weather Forecast: What to Expect

Our hopes remain high for February. Places like Montrose average around six inches of snow and frequent cold nights during winter’s shortest month, while snowfall remains lighter in Mesa County. Dry days and occasional warm stretches can impact Fruita/Grand Junction in February, but brief cold snaps and late-season snow are still on the table. I remember hiking No Thoroughfare Canyon in the CNM last February, with lots of sunshine and temps in the upper 60s.

March and April: The Slow Shift Toward Spring

Sometimes Grand Junction already feels like spring on March 1; however, it’s common for Montrose to see temperatures warm into the upper 40s with snowfall tapering off by the time we get closer to April.

By the time April arrives, snow is less common in the valleys. Longer daylight hours help turn rain into snow. Late winter storms are not unusual for Western Colorado, as spring arrives in fits and starts. Sunny days are sometimes followed by cooldowns, requiring flexibility as we transition out of winter.

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