textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Record warm temperatures persist across the Cowboy State today, along with gusty winds.

- A few isolated showers cannot be ruled out late this evening over parts of the Bighorns as well as portions of Johnson and Natrona Counties.

- Record warmth prevails through Friday when a cold front moves through ushering in a brief return to near seasonable temperatures.

UPDATE

Issued at 1220 PM MST Tue Jan 13 2026

As of noon, multiple locations have already either tied or broken their daily high temperature record for Jan 13th. Lander has already reached 60F breaking the previous record of 58F set back in 1953. Other locations such as Casper, Riverton, and Big Piney have all either broken or tied their previous records. Locations such as Lander have the potential to reach the top 3 record highest temperatures recorded during month of January. Lander's current highest recorded January Temperature is 64 which may be within grasp.

The forecast has not changed all too much as the warm, breezy, and overall quiet weather continues to prevail across the region. One slight adjustment to the overnights forecast has been temperatures which are warmer than many model guidances have suggested. This may be due to winds being slightly stronger than originally forecast leading to better mixing throughout the atmosphere. A few isolated showers remain possible this afternoon and evening across portions of the Bighorns along with Johnson and Natrona Counties. Impacts from these showers are expected to be very minimal and short lived. The remainder of the week sees record warm continue with mainly quiet conditions as well. A cold front still looks to make its way into the state late Thursday into Friday with temperatures dropping closer to seasonable values. However, this is forecast to be short lived as high pressure will try to reassert itself over the region. Temperatures will likely remain well above normal through the weekend and into the start of next week.

Looking ahead, next week may be the start of the end for this prolonged period of warm and dry conditions we have seen for much of January. Long range guidance is showing the potent area of high pressure that has dominated the region begin to be suppressed south through the week. If this does come to fruition we may see a more zonal pattern develop by the end of the week. This pattern change may usher in increased chances for colder temperatures along with precipitation chances. However, being so far out a lot can change but it definitely is something to monitor.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1200 AM MST Tue Jan 13 2026

Upper level ridging continue to dominate much of Western CONUS centered around a high over northern California. As such, the main finger of the PFJ remains to the north before it dives south into the Great Plains and Missouri River Valley. IR depicts ample high clouds spilling over the aforementioned ridge across the state with no weather concerns for the foreseeable future impact wise.

A weak mid level disturbance propagates south down the ridge that will drop a weak frontal boundary east of the Bighorns for Tuesday afternoon. Winds will be gusty up to 40 to 45 mph plus for Johnson and Natrona Counties through about sunset. Otherwise, some light snow showers expected for the northern Bighorns earlier in the afternoon to even Casper Mountain by evening time. Little to no accumulations expected due to the warmer temperatures ongoing with no impacts expected. Temperatures will remain 10 to 20 degrees warmer than average, especially east of the Divide through Thursday ahead of the next system.

This disturbance looks to be a bit more potent than Tuesday but still limited in impacts. Outside of some gusty winds and cooler temperatures, minor snow showers expected for the same general areas of the Bighorns to Casper Mountain. Temperatures the only impact to be felt with more seasonable temperatures for mid January Friday at worst. Ensemble data keeps this consistent behind the FROPA late Thursday into early Friday morning. Otherwise, ridging builds back in even stronger for the weekend and into much of next week. Warming and dry trend continues with longer term outlooks seeing more of the same for the remainder of the month.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1023 AM MST Tue Jan 13 2026

Dense cirrus overcast continues across the state today, but cigs for most location s should stay well above MVFR limits through the next 24 hours. Main issue today will be winds, with most areas seeing gusts through the day. Most areas see gusts 20 to 30kts through the afternoon, with higher gusts at KCPR and KBYG. A weak front moves through areas east of the Divide late this afternoon and evening, turning winds from the north, but not bringing any significant gusts. The front will bring a deck of lower clouds and possible light rain to KCPR after 00Z, with main chances for rain and low clouds between 02Z and 07Z. By Wednesday morning, the high cirrus and any low clouds will be thinning quickly, with likely SKC for Wednesday afternoon for all sites.

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.