textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Unsettled weather continues today with below normal temperatures and a scattering of showers and isolated afternoon thunderstorms.

- Cool and unsettled weather continues Wednesday and Thursday.

- Drier and warmer weather returns on Friday and Saturday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 253 AM MDT Tue Apr 28 2026

Unsettled weather looks to continue through the next three days or so. Right now we are having some snow showers and a few snowbands, largely across central Wyoming. This is courtesy of a weak area of low pressure and shortwave passing to the south at this time. Most of these showers should be gone by morning. In addition, with a decent amount of low level moisture in the air, the fog monster has decided to climb out of his lair in a few spots. Today looks similar to yesterday in regards to precipitation, with a scattering of showers around the area, with an emphasis on northern Wyoming. And with the showery nature of the precipitation, pinpointing them is difficult at best. In general, amounts look rather light, with only the mountains having a greater than 1 in 3 chance of a tenth of an inch or more of QPF through midnight. As for snow, no real impacts as the chance of greater than 3 inches in the mountains is less than 1 out of 10 everywhere. And, with lifted indices dropping to minus 1 and a bit of surface CAPE, we could even see a few thunderstorms. The main threat from these would be small hail or graupel given the low wet bulb zero levels. With a bit more sunshine, temperatures will be around 5 to 10 degrees warmer than yesterday, but still below normal.

The next shortwave then drop southward into the area for Wednesday. This wave has a bit more moisture and forcing with it, so the chance of showers this week will likely reach a peak here. However, again with the showery nature of the precipitation, it is difficult to pick and area of focus. As for snow, there is a better chance of accumulation in the mountains. The chance of advisory amounts of snow remains very low. The only locations with a greater than 1 in 4 chance of 6 inches or more are the highest peaks and since are no roads and basically no people, little to no impact.

One last shortwave then moves through on Thursday with another chance of showers and storms. One thing that gives me a bit of concern is a few models are showing a weak 700 millibar low that may bring some local enhancement of the precipitation. These are notoriously fickle even 12 hours out let alone three days so uncertainty is high but the possibility is there. Right now, guidance is favoring central portions of Wyoming, but we will see.

Ridging should finally build across the area on Friday and bring a nice early Spring day with sunshine, light to moderate wind and seasonal temperatures. Uncertainty then increases this weekend as a cold front approaches the area from the north and west. There is lot of disagreement in the timing of the front. For example, the European drops the front Saturday, with other models waiting until Sunday. There has also been a lack of run to run consistency with this feature. So, although we are fairly confident of a front approaching this weekend, details on the timing and placement of precipitation remains highly in doubt.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 445 AM MDT Tue Apr 28 2026

MVFR conditions for JAC/CPR due to lingering light snow, with RIW down due to fog in the vicinity. These should all lift out by 15Z with another round for CPR through 21Z. Spotty in nature for shower activity not to affect the other TAF sites for this period. Otherwise, improving skies as ceilings lift to the mid levels later this morning scattering out overnight. Winds increase to 18-25kts at BPI/CPR/PNA/RKS through sunset due to radiational cooing and improved skies diminishing after around 02Z through the overnight hours for the remainder of this TAF cycle.

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.