textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Slightly warmer today, with highs in the low-to-mid 30s west of the Divide and around 40 degrees east of the Divide. No precipitation expected today.

- Warming temperatures through Wednesday or Thursday, with highs up to 20 degrees above normal and near daily high records.

- Most locations are dry through the next 5 days, with limited light mountain snow chances (up to 30 percent chances).

- Though low confidence this far out, looking at a weather system to bring colder (but seasonal) temperatures next Thursday or Friday.

UPDATE

Issued at 101 PM MST Sat Jan 10 2026

Not much to update in the next 24 hours with the ridge building to the west. Vis and IR imagery shows the high cirrus to the northwest which will be sweeping through tonight and tomorrow morning, dimming thing a bit, but not impacting temperatures in any appreciable way. Lows tonight fall to the single digits and low teens west of the Divide and the 20s east of the Divide. Highs Sunday rise about 5 degrees from today's highs, reaching the low to mid 30s west of the divide and the upper 40s and low 50s east.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 114 AM MST Sat Jan 10 2026

Building high pressure over the far western US will be the dominating weather feature through the middle of next week. This system keeps the jet stream to our north and east, or in other words, we are on the warm side of the jet. This results in warming temperatures through this weekend, with highs around 20 degrees above normal for much of the area for the first part of next week (Monday through Wednesday). Highs are currently forecast near record highs, with EFI/SOT highlighting highs in the 90th to 100th percentile for a good portion of the area on Tuesday, with pockets of SOT values of 1 and 2 (a good indication of abnormal weather, in this case high temperatures). This high also keeps moisture out of the area, to our north. There could be a little moisture pulled into the area by a larger system out over the eastern US, like on Tuesday, that brings some slight snow chances over the western or northern mountains, but currently this looks very minimal.

Being in the middle of the large high to the west and larger lows to the east, the pressure gradient remains fairly tight, keeping breezy conditions across the area. Guidance isn't keying on any early indications of strong winds through the middle of next week, but some days will likely be windier than others depending on how tight the pressure gradient gets. Overall, expected breezy days where they typically occur, like the Wind Corridor from Rock Springs to Casper, and over mountains, but nothing unusual by Wyoming standards. Tuesday may be the windiest as the pressure gradient tightens in response to a large trough to the east.

The next weather of note comes Thursday or Friday of next week, as the jet shifts to our south and a backdoor cold front moves into the area, which would bring cooler temperatures and potentially strong north winds for places like the Bighorn Basin and Johnson County. Being this far out, not confident on details or timing, but something to watch.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1026 AM MST Sat Jan 10 2026

Low clouds at KJAC are expected to jump from VFR to MVFR through 20Z. Otherwise, dry and VFR flight conditions are forecast the entire TAF period at all terminals. Breezy winds are expected at KCOD, KCPR, KRKS, KPNA, and KBPI, with gusts up to 30kts at KCPR, KRKS, KPNA. Winds generally diminish by 00Z-02Z. KCOD and KCPR are the exceptions, where gusts persist most of the TAF period. Expect mid to high clouds to increase from the north, thanks to northwesterly flow aloft, after 06Z.

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.