textproduct: Cheyenne

KEY MESSAGES

- A Red Flag Warning is in effect for all areas along and east of Interstate 25 from noon Tuesday through 10 PM Wednesday.

- The High Wind Watch for the typical wind prone regions of southeast Wyoming has been upgraded to a High Wind Warning 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.

- Pattern change expected this weekend into early next week.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 138 AM MDT Tue Jun 16 2026

Broad, upper-level ridging will continue Tuesday through the end of the week as an upper-level ridge over the Pacific Ocean slowly moves inland. With this upper-level ridge firmly in place, benign weather is expected this week with increasing temperatures and fire danger. Temperatures Tuesday will increase into the mid-80s to mid-90s across the region with the warmest temperatures along the North Platte River Valley. With large-scake subsidence and very warm daytime temperatures, dry conditions are expected this afternoon with humidity values dropping into the 10 to 15 percent range for all locations along and east of the Laramie Range/Interstate 25 corridor. In addition to this, a 700mb shortwave will attempt to develop and move across the Plains this afternoon, leading to 700mb height gradients increasing and a strengthening 700mb jet. GFS Omega fields suggest modest downward motion this afternoon and evening, allowing some of the 700mb winds to mix down towards the surface leading to very breezy conditions this afternoon. As a result of the increasing winds, hot temperatures, and dry conditions, the Fire Weather Watch has been upgraded to a Red Flag Warning for all locations along and east of the Interstate 25 corridor.

700mb height height gradient begin to significantly increase this evening as a second, stronger 700mb trough digs into portions of the northern CONUS before closing off and becoming a closed low across the Upper-Midwest by Wednesday afternoon. With increasing height gradients, the 700mb jet will strengthen to around 55 to 60kts in the early morning hours Wednesday and continue through the late morning. GFS Omega fields suggest substantial downward motion late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning, suggesting high winds in the typical wind prone regions of southeast Wyoming. In-house random forest guidance suggests around a 60% chance for high winds at Arlington and Elk Mountain, the Interstate 80 Summit, and the South Laramie Range Foothills near Buford, with around a 40% chance at the Bordeaux wind prone location. Due to increasing confidence, the High Wind Watch for the wind prone locations has been upgraded to a High Wind Warning from 6 PM Tuesday through 3 PM Wednesday afternoon. Wind gusts between 60 and 65mph are expected in these areas, with the potential for very strong winds outside of these zones, likely gusting 40 to 50mph, especially early Wednesday morning when the 700mb jet is at its strongest.

Winds will slowly taper off late in the morning Wednesday and into the early afternoon hours as the 700mb low continues to move away from the region and lessens its influence over the Intermountain West. However, the 700mb low will drag a cold front across the region as it continues to deepen and move off to the east. This front will largely end the high wind potential across the CWA for Wednesday afternoon into the evening hours. Temperatures Thursday afternoon will be much cooler, in the 70s everywhere across southeast Wyoming and western Nebraska. Dewpoints are anticipated to increase on the backside of the front, leading to improving humidity values Wednesday night into Thursday afternoon. However, afternoon minimum humidity values Thursday will still drop to the 20 to 25 percent range. This will lead to a brief reprieve in critical fire danger, especially as winds weaken Thursday afternoon. No precipitation is currently expected with the cold frontal passage through the region.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/

Issued at 138 AM MDT Tue Jun 16 2026

More benign weather with increasing fire danger returns for Friday after a brief reprieve Thursday afternoon. Upper-level flow will remain dominated by an upper-level ridge throughout the day Friday, but an upper-level trough will begin to move into the western CONUS Friday afternoon and evening. This trough will bring the next best chance for precipitation across the region as it impacts the area Saturday afternoon into the evening and overnight hours. Long range models are in surprisingly good agreement this far out on the progression and strength of the upper-level trough expected this weekend, but the GFS is just a touch stronger on the trough strength and maybe just a touch slower. Cooler temperatures will funnel in behind this trough, especially with the increasing cloud coverage expected. The upcoming week will start off significantly different from the current weak, as precipitation chances are expected each day and temperatures remain cooler in the mid-70s to mid-80s.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1054 PM MDT Mon Jun 15 2026

VFR conditions expected for the forecast period. Winds will be occasionally variable overnight before settling on west to southwest Tuesday morning. Gusts will increase mid morning, and expect the direction to become more west to northwest as the afternoon progresses. Look for wind gusts of 20 to 30 knots in Nebraska and 30 to 40 knots in Wyoming.

After sunset, expect winds in Nebraska to ease and become variable. Gusts will become less consistent in Wyoming, but strong winds may continue late into the night there.

CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WY...Red Flag Warning from noon today to 10 PM MDT Wednesday for WYZ417-418-430>433. High Wind Warning from 9 PM this evening to 9 AM MDT Wednesday for WYZ106. High Wind Warning from 6 PM this evening to noon MDT Wednesday for WYZ110. High Wind Warning from 9 PM this evening to 3 PM MDT Wednesday for WYZ116-117. NE...Red Flag Warning from noon today to 10 PM MDT Wednesday for NEZ434>437.