textproduct: Cheyenne

KEY MESSAGES

- Red Flag Warnings remain in effect for all areas east of the Laramie Range until this evening as critical fire conditions continue.

- Additional Red Flag Warnings are in effect for Thursday primarily across far southeastern Wyoming and the southern Nebraska Panhandle due to elevated fire concerns.

- Strong wind gusts caused by downbursts are possible this afternoon, even though the Marginal Risk has shifted east of the CWA.

- A widespread high wind event is ongoing and will continue through Thursday evening across most of southeast Wyoming. Therefore, High Wind Warnings and Watches remain in effect.

- Relatively cool and wet weather is expected for the weekend and early next week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 303 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026

As an upper-level, 500MB, ridge slides off to the east, a strong upper-level trough will quickly take its place by tonight. This trough will be our primary weather maker in the short term as it brings multiple rounds of energy, vorticity maxima, into our CWA which increases our chances of precipitation, more on that in a bit. Switching gears, going down to the mid-levels, the 700MB jet has increased through the morning hours to around 50 knots and will get stronger this evening to around 70 knots. With ample downward motion in the atmosphere, negative Omega per GFS, these winds will mix down to the surface. That is already evident by surface observations as we've seen gusts to near 70 mph. Another feature that will help is a strengthening lee-side trough that will aid in spreading stronger winds east into our lower elevations east of I-25. So, winds have already picked up across our western forecast zones and will spill over over into far eastern Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle by Thursday morning. Therefore, High Wind Warnings and Watches are still in effect through 6pm Thursday.

A cold front will slide through the region this evening; however, with a dry boundary layer in place, precipitation chances will be minimal and very isolated at best. To our west, chances of snowfall increases over the higher terrain, with the highest peaks possibly seeing a few inches of accumulation. Now, thunderstorm chances decreased for this afternoon as the Marginal Risk has shifted east, per SPC. Even though, can't totally rule out a few isolated, sub- severe, thunderstorms over the Nebraska Panhandle this afternoon. Most of the precipitation associated with the cold front will dry before hitting the ground, this will create VIRGA that may bring isolated downbursts where a location may see a quick uptick in winds. With all that said, due to dry conditions, RH values dipping to as low as 5 percent, and an abundance of dry fuels, critical fire weather conditions are in place. This has resulted in a Red Flag Warning that is out until 8pm this evening. The threat wains a bit tonight, but returns Thursday with similar conditions as to today, more confined to southeastern fire zones, which includes Cheyenne. So, additional Red Flag Warnings are out from 9am to 6pm Thursday.

Onto Thursday and Friday, as the fire weather threat ends across all of our CWA by Thursday afternoon, high winds will continue. The upper-level trough, mentioned previously, will continue to plague our region with rounds of energy aloft. This will increase chances of precipitation as moisture filters in along with clouds, resulting in cooler temperatures. This will be reinforced by another cold front that pushes through the CWA Thursday evening. Rain will be the primary threat at the lower elevations, but in the mountains it will fall as snow. Here in Cheyenne, we are not anticipating any snowfall. Winds will diminish Thursday evening while another shot of elevated winds are possible west of I-25 on Friday. Temperatures will be cooler then today as highs will only top out in the upper- 40s to upper-50s while lows dip below the freezing mark.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

Issued at 303 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026

Saturday...While the flow aloft is zonal, west to east, it looks like adequate low and mid level moisture for scattered rain and snow showers. Slightly warmer than Friday based on 700 mb temperatures.

Sunday...Looks like some much needed precipitation as a slow moving trough aloft moves overhead, and with a moist airmass and low level upslope enhancing lift, we expect widespread showers to affect the forecast area. Somewhat cooler compared to Saturday with all the cloud cover and expected precipitation.

Monday...Zonal flow aloft continues and with enough low and mid level moisture and upslope low level lift, we expect scattered showers and a few thunderstorms due to the instability.

Tuesday...Low amplitude ridging aloft moves overhead, though with adequate low and mid level moisture, we anticipate scattered showers and a few thunderstorms. Slightly warmer based on 700 mb temperature trends.

Wednesday...The next trough aloft moves to the four corners with weak northwest flow aloft over our forecast area. With some increase in low and mid level moisture, we anticipate an increase in areal coverage of showers and some thunderstorms. Temperatures about the same as on Tuesday.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1130 AM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026

Southwest flow aloft will continue, while a strong cold front moves across the forecast area late this afternoon and this evening, with wind direction changing after frontal passage.

Wyoming TAFS...High confidence in scattered to broken clouds near 20000 feet, lowering to 10000 to 12000 feet tonight. Surface pressure gradients suggest wind gusts to 50 knots.

Nebraska TAFS...High confidence in scattered to broken clouds near 20000 feet. Surface pressure gradients will help produce wind gusts up to 35 knots for Chadron, Alliance and Sidney, with gusts up to 45 knots for Scottsbluff.

CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WY...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for WYZ417-418- 430>433. Red Flag Warning from 9 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday for WYZ430-431- 433. High Wind Warning until 3 PM MDT Thursday for WYZ101-104-109- 111-113. High Wind Warning until 6 PM MDT Thursday for WYZ106-116>118. High Wind Warning from 6 PM this evening to 6 PM MDT Thursday for WYZ107-108-115-119. High Wind Warning until 6 PM MDT Thursday for WYZ110. NE...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for NEZ434>437. Red Flag Warning from 9 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday for NEZ435>437. High Wind Watch from Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon for NEZ003-019>021-054-055-096.