textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Cooler start to Wednesday morning behind a weak frontal boundary Tuesday.

- Afternoon temperatures continue to be 10 to 20 degrees warmer than average Wednesday and Thursday.

- Another frontal boundary late Thursday will bring cooler but seasonable temperatures Friday with a warming trend over the weekend into early next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1200 AM MST Wed Jan 14 2026

Upper level ridging continues to dominate the western CONUS with a high centered over northern California. A weak frontal boundary scraped eastern portions of the CWA east of the Bighorns that brought some breezy winds and a few showers. The only widespread impact will be a cooler start to Wednesday morning but warming right back up to 10 to 20 degrees above average once again in the afternoon and again Thursday. The main finger of the PFJ continues to be blocked to the north into Canada before it dives south into the upper Great Plains and Missouri River Basin. The much colder temperatures remain for the Ohio River Valley and Great Lakes Region bringing some of that southward to even the Gulf of America. For our part of the country, some breezy winds, ample sunshine, and dry conditions continue to be the story.

Thursday will see a similar occurrence as Tuesday with a late date frontal passage but with a strong shortwave supporting it. The PFJ retreats westward across the state allowing for isolated shower activity east of the Divide but not much to it with ensemble guidance. 10-20% PoP the best that can be done. However, colder temperatures will come for Friday, albeit only seasonable for the middle of January. As the trough pushes east, ridging builds back in for the weekend as increasing convergence weakens the divergence aloft with the coldest of temperatures expected to push as far south as northeast Texas and northern Louisiana/Mississippi. This pattern looks to continue into next week with a blocking ridge for western CONUS and a deep, potent trough for the eastern half of the country. Longer term model solutions continue to be more aligned with bringing in a more zonal pattern by late next week that will open up the Pacific moisture for the CWA. However, as with this pattern, areas west of the Divide will mainly be impacted with snowfall but a more widespread cooler pattern will be had by all even if just seasonable for January 22nd onward towards the end of the month.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 409 AM MST Wed Jan 14 2026

Dry and VFR flight conditions are largely anticipated the entire TAF period at all terminals. However, at KJAC there exists a 15% chance that low, MVFR to IFR clouds could develop between 13Z-16Z this morning. Given the low probabilities of this occurring at KJAC, there is no mention in TAF at this time. Otherwise, expect breezy winds at KPNA through the evening. Westerly winds at KCPR and KRKS increase during the afternoon hours today with 20kt-25kt gusts. KCOD can expect west winds to increase with gusts around 25kts after 07Z Thursday. Relatively light winds are forecast at all other terminals. Northerly flow will continue to usher mid to high level clouds into the region throughout the morning before skies become mostly clear.

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.