textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- A weak cold front moves through tonight, bringing very light snow chances to the lower elevations east of the Divide. Amounts are expected to stay around a tenth of an inch.

- Accumulating snow of a few inches in the higher elevations of the Bighorn Mountains through Wednesday night.

- Overall dry and mild conditions favored over the next week.

UPDATE

Issued at 1126 AM MST Wed Jan 28 2026

No notable changes to the forecast over the next 24 hours or so. Snow amounts remain largely unchanged, with only minor adjustments with the latest hi-res data. See full discussion below for details.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 122 AM MST Wed Jan 28 2026

The last week of January has started off with a return of mild and dry conditions. This looks to only continue as we head into the second half of the week. A weak cold front looks to move through the region today, bringing with it some chances for showers across parts of the state. Showers begin to develop over western WY around noon today with coverage gradually spreading east through the afternoon. The best chances (40-80%) for precipitation will be across the higher elevation mountains, especially in western WY. Western valleys may see a brief period of light snowfall during the afternoon with maybe a coating to at most an inch possible. Showers spread into central and northern WY by the mid afternoon. Moisture in association with this front is looking rather limited, so many locations may see little to nothing as a result of the frontal passage. Lower elevations east of the Divide look to have around a 20-50% chance for a light snow shower. Portions of the Bighorn Basin, Wind River Basin as well as Johnson and Natrona Counties all will have the opportunity for a brief snow shower during the afternoon/evening. However, as mentioned earlier, little to no snow accumulation is expected which will keep any impacts to a minimum. The higher elevation mountains such as the Tetons, Salt River/Wyoming, and northern Bighorn Ranges may see a few inches of snow accumulation. Guidance is suggesting amounts of 2 to 4 inches being within the realm of possibility for the higher elevations of these ranges. Precipitation moves out of the area by the late evening with skies clearing by the early morning hours on Thursday. Some showers may linger over the mountains of western WY, but additional snow accumulations look to be very minimal.

Along with precipitation chances, the weak frontal passage will bring some increased winds to parts of the state Wednesday. The breeziest winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts near 30 mph look to be mainly confined to the Wind Corridor from Casper to Rock Springs, along with the upper Wind River Basin and Cody Foothills. Elsewhere, some breezy winds cannot be ruled out but overall light winds should prevail.

The first of possibly two rounds of potent areas of high pressure build in behind the front for the last few days of January. This should allow for mild and dry conditions to reestablish itself over the region. This can be seen with daily high temperatures continuing to moderate through the remainder of the week. Highs will gradually warm into the mid to upper 40s east of the Divide and mid to upper 30s west of the Divide for Thursday and Friday. Saturday possibly sees the return of well above normal temperatures, with many locations seeing highs nearly 20 degrees above normal. Highs Saturday are forecast to get into the low 50s east of the Divide and mid 40s west of the Divide. While this usually should be quite shocking, its become way too common this winter and truly nothing out of the ordinary this year. Temperatures continue to warm and remain well above normal for the first days of February. A potential system that was mentioned in yesterdays discussion looks to remain well to the east of the area. The most likely impacts would be increased winds with little to no chances for precipitation. Another disturbance looks to near the region for the first half of next week with current model guidance showing high uncertainty regarding its impacts and track at this time. As mentioned earlier, there may be two potent areas of high pressure moving into the region. The first to end January and the second building in for the start of February. This second high is being mentioned this far out as there is good consensus among models for this occurring. This is also further supported by CPC outlooks showing increased chances for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation over the region. So while nearly a week out, it is looking ever so likely we may see another round of well above normal temperatures and dry conditions through the first week of February. The record warm and abnormally dry 2025-2026 winter continues with no significant change or relief within sight.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 943 PM MST Thu Jan 29 2026

West of the Divide...KBPI/KJAC/KPNA/KRKS Terminals.

Conditions are expected to stay dry through the TAF period. Mountain obscurations over the western mountains will continue through the period. MVFR ceilings will continue over the Star Valley and portions of the Jackson Valley. Marginal VFR ceilings are expected at KJAC, with a 20% chance of MVFR ceilings between 13Z and 16Z.

Westerly wind gusts around 30kt will continue at KRKS, subsiding by 02Z.

East of the Divide...KCOD/KCPR/KLND/KRIW/KWRL Terminals.

Isolated snow showers will continue across the area, with a 30% chance for one of these showers impacting KCPR between 08Z and 10Z. Impacts will be limited to marginal VFR conditions. Dry conditions will return across the area by 14Z, with mountain obscurations lingering over the Bighorns through 19Z.

Gusty northwest winds will continue at KRIW, with gusts around 30kt occurring through 15Z. These winds will then subside slightly, with sustained winds around 15kt. These winds will finally end and shift to the north by 19Z, shifting to the east-southeast through 22Z. A northwest wind will return by 04Z.

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.