textproduct: Cheyenne

KEY MESSAGES

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

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

- A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for the I-80 corridor from Cheyenne to Sidney on Friday afternoon due to low humidity and breezy conditions.

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

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 310 AM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026

Clearing skies ongoing this morning east of the Laramie Range as downsloping winds increase. Gusty conditions are ongoing at most locations, with the I-80 Summit currently seeing 60+ mph gusts with the highest, recent gust of 70 mph near Vedauwoo. Strong winds are anticipated to peak early this morning, especially along the I-80 Summit before slowly tapering off through the evening hours. Temperatures right now are fairly steady, in the 30s and 40s in Wyoming and 50s across western Nebraska. Nebraska will likely see some cooler temperatures in the next few hours as the cloud deck overhead migrates off to the east.

The upper-level trough continues to push into the region today through at least Friday, as the trough weakens and redevelops off to the west through the morning hours today. Further down at 700mb, the 700mb jet is expected to set up along the Laramie Range within the next few hours, leading to increasing height gradients and a strengthening of the 700mb jet. The jet is expected to reach its peak strength by 15Z this morning, maxing out around 75kts, directly across southern portions of the Laramie Range. Surface pressure gradients remain very high this morning, leading to strong, 4 to 5 mb gradient across the southern Laramie Range, with maxed downward omega values. As a result, the peak winds of this high wind event are expected to occur near the I-80 Summit between about now and about noon today, potentially between 9 AM and Noon. High Wind Warnings remain in effect through 6 PM this evening, with winds really starting to decrease beginning around 3 PM this afternoon. Temperatures today will be cooler than yesterday, thanks to a cold front that pushed through the region. Highs in the 50s and 60s are expected east of the Laramie range and 50s west. Isolated to scattered precipitation chances are possible across portions of the region as a secondary cold front move through this morning into the early afternoon hours. The Sierra Madre and Snowy Ranges will likely see the most precipitation, with up to 6 inches of snow possible throughout the day today and into the overnight hours. Lighter precipitation accumulations are expected for the lower elevations, mostly north of about Highway 26. Dry conditions are expected east of the Laramie Range, with afternoon humidity values likely dropping into the 15 to 25% range, especially across southern portions of the Panhandle. With winds gusting upwards of 50 mph, the Red Flag Warning remains in effect through this evening.

Another cooler, breezy day is expected on Friday behind the secondary cold front that pushed through Thursday, and as the upper- level low finally starts to move overhead. Breezy conditions on Friday result from a 700mb shortwave swinging through the region and briefly increase height gradients. High winds are not anticipated on Friday, but gusts to about 40 mph will be possible, especially in the wind prone area. Temperatures east of the Laramie Range will once again be in the 50s and 60s, with 40s possible across northern portions of the region. Another, weaker, cold front is anticipated to push through the area, increasing precipitation chance east of the Laramie Range, though only to about 30% chances. RAP soundings suggest a strong, Inverted-V signature with very dry surface conditions, so precipitation will likely struggle to reach the ground, though it cannot be ruled out with the stronger forcing from the front. Any precipitation that falls will start as rain and likely slowly transition over to snow into the later evening hours as temperatures cool off. With warmer afternoon temperatures and little moisture ahead of the front, afternoon humidity values along I-80 from Cheyenne to Sidney will drop into the 15 to 20% range. With breezy conditions expected, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for this area. Overnight recoveries will be very good, likely about 80%, so a long duration Fire Weather Watch is not anticipated.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 310 AM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026

This upper level troughing pattern should hold for the next few days. This will keep us cloudy and close to seasonable, with some periods of rain and snow. Chances of precipitation begin in the mountains Saturday afternoon where some up slope lift increases the chances of measurable precipitation. Much of the rest of the areas stays just cloudy though a few showers may occur. The chances of precipitation does eventually start to increase going into the evening and overnight hours elsewhere. This is in response to an upper level disturbance moving in from the Southern California/Nevada region. Ensembles are highlighting at least 50 percent probabilities of 0.1" or more of precipitation in the mountains, that becomes more widespread in the afternoon. An enhancement of rainfall may also occur over the Nebraska Panhandle regions of our CWA as the system moves through. This does depend on where a stationary front to our south ends up. A more northerly placement would result in more rainfall, but models are still highly spread on this. Monday appears to be the start of a drying period as a ridge axis tries to nose its way into our area. Outside the Mountain ranges, PoPs drop into the 40s. Tuesday this feature starts to have an increased influence in our weather with temperatures reaching into the 60s and relative humidities decreasing. The good news is that instead of weeks long spells of ridging, there is good agreement in guidance that continued troughing will prevail. Expect cool and rainy periods starting Wednesday through Thursday as another disturbance moves in. Throughout the forecast period there is some support of thunderstorms, particularly for Sunday. Therefore a few rumbles of thunder would not be surprising. At this time the probability of severe storms appears low.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1156 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026

Strong winds in the last few hours have been felt at KCYS, however have come down. Winds should calm but remain breezy between 30-35 kts at KCYS and KRWL through the remainder of the night. KLAR may begin to pick up to 45 knots as the mountain wave moves back west. A shallow inversion will develop during the early morning hours at KCYS and extending to KBFF as the flow above the inversion is expect to remain in the 45-50 kts range with surface winds in the 30s, imparting llws. A cold front will start making its way in from the northwest. Expect a shift in winds out of the NW at 40-45 kts between 16-18z for terminals in the Nebraska Panhandle. A drop in cloud ceilings is anticipated which may send terminals into MVFR during the frontal passage. During the day periods of rain or snow showers may develop that will lower ceilings, perhaps into MVFR. Winds will remain brisk at the SE Wyoming terminals out of the west at 35-45 kts.

CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WY...Red Flag Warning from 9 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this evening for WYZ430-431-433. Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through Friday evening for WYZ430-431. High Wind Warning until 3 PM MDT this afternoon for WYZ101-104- 109-111-113. High Wind Warning until 6 PM MDT this evening for WYZ106>108- 110-115>119. NE...Red Flag Warning from 9 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this evening for NEZ435>437. Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through Friday evening for NEZ437.