textproduct: Cheyenne

KEY MESSAGES

- A Red Flag Warning is in effect for portions of southeast Wyoming and western Nebraska from noon to 9 PM Monday.

- A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for all areas along and east of Interstate 25 from noon Tuesday through 8 PM Wednesday.

- A High Wind Watch has been issued for the typical wind prone regions of southeast Wyoming from 6 PM Tuesday through 3 PM Wednesday.

- Fire weather concerns continue through the end of the work week with dry conditions and minimal chances of precipitation.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 252 PM MDT Mon Jun 15 2026

Relatively benign weather will continue in the short term aside from fire weather concerns. A pleasant but breezy day is ongoing across the forecast area this afternoon with temperatures near average and some scattered fair weather cumulus. The gusty winds are contributing to the Red Flag conditions east of the Laramie Range. Observed gusts have been anywhere from 25 to 35 MPH with relative humidity in the teens and 20s. A strong upper-level ridge over the west coast has a allowed a warmer and drier airmass to move into the Rockies. This airmass will be in place over the next several days so fire weather conditions will persist. A trough northeast of the CWA will push some mid-level moisture into the CWA this evening, allowing overnight humidity recoveries to rebound a bit. Therefore the Red Flag Warning in place will expire later this evening.

Fire weather conditions pop right back up again on Tuesday with a long duration Fire Weather Watch in effect Tuesday through Wednesday for the areas east of the Laramie Range. A warm front will move across the CWA Tuesday morning, allowing high temperatures to warm into the 80s and 90s. These above average temperatures will help dry out the surface, leading to relative humidity below 15 percent. Windy conditions are also expected throughout the day as the CWA sits in the western periphery of a 250 mb jet. Areas west of the Laramie Range will see the strongest winds during the day with gusts over 45 MPH possible. Winds will continue increasing overnight as the upper-level jet dives a bit further south. High Wind Watches are in place for the southeast Wyoming wind prones starting Tuesday evening as winds aloft increase up to 60 kts with good subsidence. MSLP gradients and height gradients also show a strong response, increasing confidence in high winds occurring. In-house guidance also show about a 50 to 60 percent chance of high winds in the wind prones, so upgrades to the High Wind Watches are likely in a later forecast package. Strong downsloping winds will contribute to poor overnight humidity recoveries, increasing fire weather concerns for the following day.

LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 252 PM MDT Mon Jun 15 2026

Wednesday...Fast northwest flow aloft prevails. With a shortwave trough aloft passing across the northern plains, the associated cold front will bring somewhat cooler temperatures compared to Tuesday. 700 mb temperatures averaging around 10C will yield maximum temperatures in the 70s to lower 80s. Low and mid level moisture will exist across the northern plains states, well northeast of our forecast area, thus dry conditions expected for our forecast area.

Thursday...Even cooler more autumnal like temperatures occur, with 700 mb temperatures near 8C yielding high temperatures in the 70s to near 80 degrees. Scant low and mid level moisture, thus no precipitation expected.

Friday...A return to warmer temperatures is on tap as the flow aloft backs from northwest to west, with a surface lee trough helping to boost maximum temperatures into the 80s to near 90 degrees.

Saturday...A more active pattern develops, while a shortwave trough aloft passes overhead near peak heating, and an influx of low and mid level moisture along a surface trough axis helps to develop a scattered coverage, 30 to 60 percent coverage of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening, most numerous east of Interstate 25. Some strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible due to forecast instability and wind shear profiles.

Sunday...While a shortwave trough aloft slides eastward across the Dakotas and Nebraska in the afternoon, its associated cold front will bring some heat relief with 700 mb temperatures near 7C suggesting maximum temperatures in the 70s to lower 80s. Continued adequate low and mid level moisture for scattered late day showers and thunderstorms, closer to the deeper moisture east of Interstate 25.

Monday...Looks like a similar setup compared to Saturday, with a shortwave trough passage in the afternoon, spawning scattered showers and thunderstorms for the afternoon and evening focused along a surface trough axis west of the Wyoming-Nebraska state line. Some strong to severe thunderstorms look likely due to expected instability and wind shear profiles.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 503 PM MDT Mon Jun 15 2026

VFR in place throughout the TAF period as we remain in a dry, northwesterly flow regime downstream of a longwave ridge centered over the western third of the country. Expect NW flow to decrease to 5-10 knots after 06Z as a weak surface high establishes itself over SE Wyoming into the Nebraska Panhandle. After 15Z tomorrow, zonal 700 mb flow increases to 30-35 knots, translating to gusts of 35-40 knots out of the west mainly for the Wyoming terminals as a jet streak approaches from the NW. Can expect mainly just a few high clouds during this time with CIGs remaining aoa 25 kft.

CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WY...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for WYZ417-418- 432-433. Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening for WYZ417-418-430>433. High Wind Watch from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning for WYZ106. High Wind Watch from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning for WYZ110. High Wind Watch from Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon for WYZ116-117. NE...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for NEZ434>437. Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening for NEZ434>437.