textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Cooler temperatures overnight under some high clouds spilling over the upper level ridge to the southwest. Dry conditions and more seasonable start to the new work week Monday morning.

- A warming trend will begin Monday with the return of near- record temperatures by midweek. There will be a 10 to 20 percent of showers across the northern mountains during the time, but the majority of the area will remain dry.

- Warm, dry, and windy conditions will lead to widespread elevated to critical fire weather conditions on Wednesday.

UPDATE

Issued at 1209 PM MDT Sun Mar 22 2026

A cooler day is ongoing behind last evening's cold front. Satellite imagery shows a decreasing low cloud deck east of the Divide; this should give way to sunny skies by early afternoon. Fire weather conditions are much more limited today, mainly focused across southern Wyoming where humidity will again drop to around or below 10 percent. Wind will be lighter, however, and no fire weather highlights have been issued for the first time in several days. As noted below, a warming trend will begin again tomorrow, leading to the return of potential record temperatures and increasing fire weather concerns by midweek.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 201 AM MDT Sun Mar 22 2026

Today will see a bit of a reprieve in the unprecedented early spring heat, as a weak cold front has pushed across central Wyoming. Some gusty north winds have brought cooler temperatures into the state, but these temperatures are still well above normal for mid-March. Highs today will "only" be in the 50s and 60s, about 10 degrees above normal. The front has brought some light precip to the Bighorn Range, but any accumulations have been negligible. As this front washes out this afternoon, west to southwest winds return, and with ridging building back in, temperatures will start to increase back into the 60s and 70s into the middle of this week. The ridge will be slightly farther south, so the extreme heat will be held back, and this will also open the door for some precip to move back into the northwest mountain ranges and the Parks. Temperatures look warm enough to produce light rain during the day and light snow during the overnight hours. Moisture with this impulse looks very limited, so overall accumulations remain minimal.

Another weather system approaches on Wednesday. Ahead of this system, winds are expected to increase considerably. This along with very dry air will bring another threat for fire weather across most of the state Wednesday afternoon.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 456 PM MDT Sun Mar 22 2026

VFR conditions prevail through the period. A breezy easterly push could bring some 15 to 20 knot winds to KCPR and KRIW overnight. Otherwise, light, diurnal winds tonight, with increasing winds for Monday afternoon.

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.