textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Dry conditions and seasonal temperatures prevail for most areas overnight and into Friday. However, there is a less than 10 percent chance for light rain or snow showers over portions of south Lincoln and Sweetwater Counties through mid-morning Friday.

- Dry conditions and generally light winds continue through the weekend.

- Temperatures climb to above average Saturday and persist into the middle of next week. The warmest temperatures arrive Sunday, with many areas at least 10 degrees above seasonal averages.

UPDATE

Issued at 1203 PM MST Thu Nov 5 2026

Morning fog and low clouds in far northwest Wyoming have eroded as of midday, but linger across western Sweetwater County. These clouds fade early Thursday afternoon ahead of an approaching trough. This trough is nearing the western Wyoming border and will quickly replace an upper ridge transiting the state today. Clouds steadily increase from west-to-east this afternoon and evening as an elongated mid-level moisture axis associated with the trough spreads across the region. This narrow axis allows for clearing to begin over Yellowstone and the far west just prior to sunrise Friday. The clearing line makes its way through most, if not all, of the forecast area by midday Friday. Dry conditions prevail over almost the entire region with the exception being the far southwest. A few showers could occur over south Lincoln County beginning early Thursday evening before spreading into Sweetwater County by early Friday morning. Isolated light showers or virga linger over this region until clearing begins between 15Z-18Z/Friday. The overnight cloud cover keeps low temperatures Friday morning at least a few degrees warmer than those of Thursday morning. Only surface wind of significance will be a south to southwest wind 15 to 25 mph Thursday afternoon from South Pass to Casper and northward through Johnson County.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 153 AM MST Thu Nov 5 2026

Another day of quiet weather returns to the Cowboy State today, as an area of high pressure shifts over eastern MT/WY and the western Dakotas. The main impacts will be temperatures rising a few degrees above normal in the Bighorn Basin and Natrona County and as high as 13 degrees above normal over Johnson County today. Additionally, southwest winds with gusts up to 20 mph will occur from South Pass to eastern Johnson County this afternoon.

A trough will move over the region on Friday, shifting the area of high pressure over the Dakotas and Upper Midwest. Very light rain showers will be possible over Sweetwater County between 11Z and 20Z along the tail end of the trough. West to southwest winds with gusts of 20 to 25 mph will impact most areas Friday afternoon in the wake of the trough. Otherwise, temperatures will return to more seasonal levels. A broad ridge will then build over much of the Intermountain West and extend over the Northern Rockies by Saturday keeping conditions dry. Above normal temperatures return to the Bighorn Basin and Johnson/Natrona counties Saturday, becoming more widespread across the CWA on Sunday. A fast moving trough will pass over the northern half of the state Monday as the ridge folds over. The flow pattern will be more zonal Monday and Tuesday, before another ridge returns over the Northern Rockies Wednesday and remains in place Thursday. Conditions look to remain dry through the next 7 days, apart from the aforementioned light showers possible Friday morning.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 326 PM MST Thu Nov 5 2026

VFR conditions expected all sites through the next 24 hours. A few lower clouds are possible briefly at KRKS around 12Z Friday, but cloud cover farther aloft along with a sight breeze will keep lower levels mixed through the night. High cirrus overnight will sweep through quickly, with most of Friday expected to be nearly clear with light winds.

RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.