textproduct: Cheyenne

KEY MESSAGES

- Mountain snowfall expected through midday Thursday with snow accumulations less than 6 inches. Some light flurries and snow showers across the eastern plains through Thursday evening.

- Mild weather cooling off later in the week to near average as a frontal system passes through the high plains. Low chances of light snow accumulations in the Nebraska panhandle on Friday.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 240 AM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

IR Satellite loop shows mostly cloudy conditions over the area with some light snow observed. KCYS radar loop shows bands of either very light snow or virga pushing southeast across the I-80 and I-25 corridor. This activity is in response to a Pacific upper level trough axis quickly moving east across the area, with northwest flow behind the trough currently over Wyoming at this hour. Expect flurries or light snow to continue early this morning and gradually shift northeast through the morning and early afternoon hours. Little if any accumulation expected as the lower boundary layer remains pretty dry. Last night, SNOTEL sites across the Sierra Madre Range and Snowy Range generally reported 1 to 3 inches of snow. Expect another 1 or so of accumulation and will not issue any Winter Weather Advisories for that area with snowfall tapering to flurries and ending by midday. It will be a little cooler today compared to Wednesday behind the front/trough axis with highs generally in the mid 30s to mid 40s across the area...warmest below 5000 feet.

For Friday and Saturday, primary forecast concern will be a back door arctic cold front, which is forecast to move into western Nebraska, and possibly the eastern Wyoming plains late Thursday night and Friday. Higher confidence with the timing and western extent of the arctic airmass compared to yesterday. Arctic airmass is pretty shallow with model sounding showing a depth of 2000 to 2500 feet. Expect this airmass to make it as far west as the I-25 corridor before it rapidly retreats eastward by mid Saturday morning. Kept the coldest temperatures across western Nebraska Friday and Friday night with highs struggling to reach 30 degrees...and lows likely in the single digits to lower teens. Further west, min and max temperatures will be closer to average west of the arctic front. Do not expect this front to make any impact on Albany and Carbon counties. Increased POP east of the Interstate 25 corridor with a solid chance of some light snow or flurries along and behind the arctic front. At this time, looks like any accumulations should be below one inch, mainly on the Pine Ridge. For Saturday, surface wind will shift into the west as the front rapidly retreats eastward. High temperatures with climb back into the 40s to low 50s Saturday afternoon. As the front retreats, will have to watch the potential for strong gusty winds across the wind prone areas due to a favorable gap wind pattern. Increased winds along portions of I-80 and I-25 up to High Wind criteria early Saturday morning.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1224 PM MST Wed Jan 28 2026

A rather benign pattern featuring western US ridging and eastern toughing will continue through the long-term period. A weak vort-max moving up and over the western ridge will skirt the southeast Wyoming/western Nebraska area on Saturday, perhaps bringing another period of light snow to the mountains. Behind this system, the western ridge builds eastward resulting in height-rises and weak downslope flow over our region. Expect afternoon highs to warm incrementally each day from Saturday through Monday, with afternoon highs running around 15 degrees above average on both Sunday and Monday. As has been the case in the past several guidance cycles, ensembles begin to diverge by Tuesday with some clusters showing a series of weak passing troughs and light snow chances by the middle and end of next week, and others keeping the potent ridge of high pressure in place. Some model runs even support a strong Rex-block pattern (very favorable for dry and warm weather here) with a large ridge over the PNW and cutoff low pressure system over southern Arizona. Given the pattern trends throughout much of this winter, we will favor the drier, warmer solutions for now.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1020 PM MST Wed Jan 28 2026

Minimal aviation impacts as VFR conditions will prevail across all terminals for the duration of this TAF period. Winds may be the only thing that pose a threat to aviation operations. Gusty winds for KCYS, KLAR, and KRWL will continue while winds across the Nebraska panhandle will increase by 18Z Thursday, expect gusts in the 25-35 knot range across all terminals. After 00Z Friday, winds will wind down to generally less than 10 knots.

CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WY...None. NE...None.