textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- The heaviest snowfall has moved out of the area. A few isolated snow showers may linger through the afternoon with little to no additional accumulation expected.

- Newly fallen snow will led to many locations remaining chilly through the day with sub-zero temperatures forecast overnight.

- A nearby disturbance looks to bring some chances for snow over western and southern WY Friday. However, impacts look low at this time with much of the precipitation remaining south of the state.

- Warmer and quieter conditions gradually return to the region for the weekend into the start of next week.

UPDATE

Issued at 1047 AM MST Thu Feb 19 2026

The system that brought some much needed snowfall to lower elevations east of the Divide has moved out of the area. Clouds are expected to gradually clear out through the day today with some lingering snow showers possible. Temperatures are looking to remain on the chilly side, especially where fresh snow cover exists. As a result of the newly fallen snow, many locations will struggle to warm up today. Highs across the state today will range from the low teens to low 20s. The coldest temperatures look to be over parts of central and northern WY, where multiple inches of new snow has fallen. Along with high temperatures, lows Thursday night into Friday morning will take a hit due to the newly fallen snow and clearing skies. Probabilistic guidance suggests much of central WY from Riverton to Casper and Casper to Buffalo having around a 30-60% of seeing lows below negative five. Thermopolis to Worland is another area east of the Divide that has similar chances of seeing lows near negative five. Colder temperatures look likely across western valleys, such as Jackson Hole, Star Valley, and the upper Green River Basin. Probabilities currently range from 40-70% for these locations seeing low temperatures of negative ten or colder. The newly fallen snow may also led to inversions developing across central WY which could hinder warming over the next few days. So this will need to be monitored, as instead of seeing the current forecasted highs in the low 30s Friday, inversions may lead to highs only in the 20s.

As for the remainder of the forecast, much of the previous discussion still mostly holds. The only difference looks to be snow amounts over western WY for Friday. Recent trends have shown lower snow amounts for the western mountains with many areas seeing less than an inch. Otherwise, a period of quieter and gradually warmer weather looks to arrive for the upcoming weekend into the start of next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 321 AM MST Thu Feb 19 2026

We are now on the back half of the system that has (finally) brought widespread snow to Wyoming. Radar, satellite, and webcam imagery show snow is now mostly focused east of the Continental Divide as the system begins to pull away. Observed winds currently show a surface circulation centered across Fremont and Natrona counties; these areas will be most favored to see another inch or two of snow through sunrise, especially across the upslope-favored Casper area. Snow will linger through the rest of the morning though it will decrease after sunrise. A trailing shortwave will also keep light snow going across the mountains of western Wyoming, though moisture is limited and additional accumulation is expected to be minor.

Much colder temperatures are expected today behind the system, with highs peaking in the teens and 20s. Lows will drop to around or below zero for most of the area tonight, though there is some uncertainty on cloud cover which could lead to large temperature fluctuations in either direction. Given the fresh snow for most, overnight temperatures may need to be lowered a little more if cloud coverage decreases further. Southern Wyoming will see just enough of a cloud increase from a system passing over the Four Corners area to stay about 10 degrees warmer. This will bring a low chance (20-30%) of a quick round of snow to southern Lincoln County and Sweetwater County Friday, though moisture is limited and most of the snow is expected to remain in Colorado. Still, a northern shift in the passing system could lead to some travel impacts along the I- 80 Corridor Friday.

Separately, another shortwave and modest moisture advection will bring a quick round of snow to the western Wyoming mountains Friday afternoon and evening. Currently, forecast accumulations with this feature are expected to remain light, generally only an inch or two.

Temperatures will moderate through the weekend with no additional precipitation as ridging returns. This will begin to break down early next week as the next system approaches. As it stands now, this would be focused on western Wyoming beginning in the Monday night through Tuesday timeframe with the arrival of Pacific moisture within southwesterly low-level flow. LREF precipitable water values are currently forecast to peak around the 95th percentile across western Wyoming, potentially contributing to a more significant snow event. Confidence for precipitation farther east is lower. Regardless, after a quick reprieve this weekend, guidance favors a return to a more active pattern through next week.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 345 PM MST Thu Feb 19 2026

VFR conditions for all TAF sites for much of the TAF period. Mainly mid level scattered to broken clouds with the exception of the lower 6kft ceilings in JAC and partial mountain obscuration. This will scatter out overnight with possible low stratus and fog for JAC/CPR due to the recent snowfall. Confidence is low at this point (10-20%) but something to keep an eye on for Friday morning in the next TAF cycle. Otherwise, dry conditions expected.

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

RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.