textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Another day of very warm temperatures across western Wyoming, with highs 10 to 15 degrees above average. Multiple records highs may be broken again today and even through Thursday.

- Windy conditions return Friday and into the weekend, bringing elevated to near critical fire weather concerns.

- The next weather system still timed to arrive later this weekend, with likely rain showers and an increasing probability of snow for higher elevations above 12,000 feet.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 208 AM MDT Tue Oct 6 2026

Consistent and strong ridging continues to dominate western and central Wyoming through the rest of the upcoming week. This will keep the very warm and dry conditions going, with highs 10 to 15 degrees above normal through Friday. Those leaves that are already changing colors are going to get confused for a while. There is a weak and dissipating midlevel trough moving out of the Great Basin into western Colorado, which may push a few virga showers into far southern WY this afternoon, but with surface dewpoint temps in the 20s, any precip that tries to fall will quickly evaporate well before reaching the ground.

Hints of a larger change start to show on Friday, as a larger trough starts to drop southward along the Pacific Coast. This will start to tighten up the sfc gradient in the region, bringing a more typical windy Wyoming day. This along with the still very dry conditions will lead to near critical fire weather concerns during the afternoon. This pattern continues into the day Saturday as well. Longer term models still can't quite agree on the timing of the arrival of the trough this weekend, but are becoming more consistent in bringing it through nonetheless. Confidence in increasing in a considerable weather change with this system, bringing much colder temperatures, ample rainfall at lower levels, and the first decent amount of snowfall for the main mountain ranges across NW WY.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 516 AM MDT Tue Oct 6 2026

VFR conditions across western and central Wyoming through the next 24 hours. Most locations remain nearly clear with only thin cirrus. Thicker cirrus noted over KRKS this morning will be thinning by 18Z, with some lingering midlevel clouds through the afternoon producing some virga showers. Winds remain generally light, holding 10kts or less.

RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.