textproduct: Cheyenne

KEY MESSAGES

- Dry weather and mild temperatures expected for the rest of the week and into the weekend. Changes in the weather pattern likely early to mid next week.

- Some record high temperatures expected Friday and through the weekend.

- Very windy for the wind prone areas of southeast Wyoming Friday night and early Saturday morning, with locally strong wind gusts possible.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 245 AM MST Fri Feb 6 2026

Tranquil weather expected to continue through Saturday as all models remain consistent and show the strong upper level ridge axis pushing over the area today. Clear skies early this morning with relatively mild overnight temperatures for early February. Many locations remain in the 30s and 40s, although some of the more sheltered valleys, such as the Laramie Valley and portions of the Nebraska panhandle, remain much colder with lows in the teens to mid 20s. Do not expect much to change over the next 48 hours in this pattern with locally gusty winds being the only notable weather concern into the weekend.

Should be a few degrees cooler this afternoon, compared to Thursday, as a weak cool front is trending a little further west compared to 24 hours ago. 850mb temperature analysis shows this front the best with 850 temps lowering from 14c to around 7c this afternoon, mainly across the eastern plains. This should result in highs around 10 degrees cooler compared to Thursday, but still remaining in the upper 50s to low 60s for the eastern plains...so still a pleasant day. Lowered temperatures a few degrees, especially the south facing ridges including Harrison, Lusk, Cheyenne, Kimball and Sidney Nebraska due to southerly upslope winds. A few record high temperatures are still possible today, but should mainly be Rawlins and Laramie that are affected. Winds are expected to veer back into the west for Saturday and increase with warmer temperatures expected, compared to today, due to downslope winds as a weak disturbance aloft moves southeast across the high plains. Record highs are more likely Saturday afternoon...although it should be pretty breezy or windy depending on location. As for the wind prone areas late tonight and early Saturday, winds and low to midlevel pressure gradients are expected to respond to the weak upper level disturbance moving southeast across the high plains Saturday. However, low level pressure gradients, 700mb winds, and 700mb subsidence (negative Omega) are even more modest and marginal compared to 24 hours ago. NAM and HRRR show relatively weak surface gradients along the spine of the mountains, with values below thresholds we normally look for. In-house wind guidance has also backed off some. Due to low confidence, kept winds unchanged from the previous forecast(s) and will not issue a High Wind Watch at this time. Could see a few sites briefly hit 58 to 61 MPH, but timing and location are highly uncertain (< 40% confidence).

LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 346 PM MST Thu Feb 5 2026

Not many changes will be forth coming this afternoon as guidance has not really altered that much from previous thinking. There are some differences between the GFs and ECMWF that are note worthy and would have an impact on our sensible weather. These differences do not really show up until late in the period so plenty of time to get some clarification.

The period initiates with the highly amplified pattern we have all become familiar with in place with ridging over the CWA, anchored by upper troughing along the east coast and another trough approaching the west coast. The ridge will dominate on Sunday with temperatures still well above average with highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s, cooler of course in the higher elevation areas. Elevated winds can not be discounted Sunday night but no headlines are expected. The ridge will start to flatten out somewhat Monday but temperatures will still be comparable to Sunday's.

Guidance continue to show a cold frontal passage Monday night and into Tuesday which will knock down temperatures considerably and introduce at least a chance of much needed moisture, especially in the higher terrain areas. Actual POPS and QPF are not excessively high but any precipitation would be welcomed.

The aforementioned model differences show up after the cold frontal passage with one solution developing yet another stout upper ridge over the area with a weak wave sneaking through it. Another solution has a much broad and flatter ridge to our south with much better chances of precipitation. Which solution does verify will be significant to precipitation chances and amounts but plenty of time remains to sort it all out.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 455 AM MST Fri Feb 6 2026

Strong upper level ridge axis will move over southeast Wyoming and western Nebraska today. Clear skies and relatively light winds out of south are expected into this evening.

HAZARDS/WEATHER TRENDS: VFR conditions will continue over the next 24 hours. Winds out of the south will briefly gust around 20 knots this afternoon and this evening, but winds should generally be light. Some LLWS possible after 06z Saturday as winds aloft slowly increase.

CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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