textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Sub-zero temperatures, approximately 5 to 10 degrees below seasonal normals, will be widespread across the region Sunday night. The coldest temperatures will be found in the far west valleys and the lower river valleys east of the Continental Divide.

- Dry conditions and a warming trend are in store for the upcoming work week.

- Early indications are that high temperatures next weekend (January 31 and February 1) could approach 50 degrees for many locations east of the Continental Divide.

UPDATE

Issued at 1200 PM MST Sun Jan 25 2026

Lingering snow showers across eastern Fremont County extends to the southeast over eastern Sweetwater to southern Natrona Counties through the mid afternoon hours. No significant impacts with minor accumulations expected less than half an inch of any additional snowfall. Otherwise, IR depicts clearing skies west of the Divide and will clear eastward through the late afternoon to evening hours. This will give way to mainly clear skies overnight with another round of frigid morning low temperatures Monday morning. However, some breezy winds east of the Divide may hinder temperatures as cold as the past couple mornings by sunrise.

With that said, forecast still on track for upper level ridging to build back in across the upper Rockies Monday onward. This will give way to dry conditions and a warming trend to seasonable temperatures the first half of the week to above average by late week and possible into next weekend. The next system does not look to impact the area until possibly weeeknd's end. Any storm systems through the week will stay northeast as the PFJ deflects the energy into the Great and High Plains.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 116 AM MST Sun Jan 25 2026

After nearly a year, many location across the Cowboy State finally saw temperatures drop below zero. Locations such as Riverton saw Saturday morning lows hit -10F tying the previous low temperature record for the day from 2008. It is truly quite refreshing to see low temperature records instead of record highs that we have seen frequently across the state over the past two months. Unfortunately the brief period of cold temperatures looks to be coming to an end.

The brief taste of winter thats returned to the area over the past few days will persist for Sunday. Temperatures this morning remain on the chilly side ranging from the single digits to below zero. A nearing weak shortwave will hinder further cooling as cloud cover in association with snow showers have begun to move into northern WY as of 0100 MST. Showers will continue to spread south through the morning with much of northern and central WY having a 20-50% chance for a snow shower or two. Showers dissipate by the late morning hours with skies gradually clearing through the remainder of the day. Impacts as a result of these showers will be minimal with lower elevations seeing snow accumulations ranging from a coating to possibly an inch. Higher elevations of western and central WY may see slightly higher amounts ranging from an inch to potentially 3 inches. Temperatures today remain below normal with highs in the single digits in portions of Natrona and Johnson Counties. Other locations see highs in the teens to low twenties with some slightly warmer locations across southern WY where winds look to increase this afternoon. As just mentioned, winds increase this afternoon becoming breezy especially over southern and southwestern WY, where winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts around 30 mph will be possible. A light breeze will develop over other parts of the state with speeds around 15 mph and gusts near 20 to 25 mph. These breezy winds persist into the overnight which will hinder temperatures from cooling. That being said Sunday night into Monday morning will feel quite raw with apparent temperatures ranging from -10 to -20 across most of the state. One area to monitor is Natrona and Johnson Counties where stronger winds of 15 to 25 mph look to linger through the overnight. These winds combined with cold temperatures would lead to feels like temperatures of -20 to possibly -30 in some locations. This would be borderline Cold Weather Advisory criteria but at this time no highlights will be issued. The coldest temperatures look to occur early in the morning on Monday with gradual warming expected closer to sunrise. Lows may still get below zero for parts of the state before warming occurs especially in parts of Johnson and Natrona Counties. This warming is due to 700 mb temperatures making their way into the region with breezy winds likely allowing for these warmer temperatures to mix to the surface. That being said, colder 700 mb temperatures are likely to linger over portions of western WY as a result of lighter winds, leading to the cold prevailing through the overnight.

That concludes the free trial of a normal WY winter, as mild and dry conditions quickly return for the upcoming week. Monday sees a day and night difference in temperatures compared to Sunday. Highs on Monday are forecast to be nearly 25 to 35 degrees warmer with temperatures returning to the 30s to low 40s. The all too familiar potent ridging that has hindered a normal winter across the region, reasserts itself over the western CONUS. This ridging is expected to persist through much of the upcoming week keeping conditions mainly mild and dry. Models do try to show some weak disturbances work their way near the area but ridging looks to hinder any further development or intensification. As a result mild temperatures and dry conditions are likely to prevail through the end of January. As for the start of February no pattern change looks to be within sight with ridging likely to persist.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 945 PM MST Sun Jan 25 2026

All terminals to be VFR through 06Z/Tuesday as northwest flow prevails aloft. Mid/high cloud cover increases late in the period with widespread BKN120-200 anticipated after 00Z/Tuesday. A surface trough over eastern Wyoming allows for increasing southwest wind overnight, especially at KCPR and KCOD. The strongest surface wind comes at KCPR, where 25-35kt southwest wind prevails much of Monday. KRKS sees westerly wind increase to 15-25kts by late morning. Speeds come down at these three terminals around sunset Monday, although 10- 20kt winds remain. Low stratus and fog develop early in the period around the Yellowstone Plateau, but at this time it looks to remain north of KJAC before dissipating late Monday morning. Other indicators show a low probability of fog anywhere else, and have kept TAFs without VCFG early Monday morning.

Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on icing and turbulence forecasts.

RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.