textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Cool today, with highs in the low-to-mid 50s.

- Scattered showers move into northwest Wyoming tonight, with light rain/mountain snow chances (15-40 percent) across northern and central Wyoming through Thursday. - Dry and warming trend into the weekend and early next week.

UPDATE

Issued at 1236 PM MDT Wed May 6 2026

No notable changes with this update. Today remains on the cool side, with highs in the low-to-mid 50s for most of the area. Lows tonight should remain above freezing for east of Divide locations, except in low-lying areas where near 30 degrees is possible. A shortwave moves through the northwest flow tonight, bringing some light rain showers or light mountain snow showers to northern Wyoming, spreading to central areas Thursday morning and afternoon, when an isolated thunderstorm is also possible. Outside a quick system Saturday, the weekend looks to remain mostly dry, with warming temperatures. Early next week could see 80s across the area.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 200 AM MDT Wed May 6 2026

IR currently depicts ample cloud cover across the southern half of the CWA with improved conditions further north. The closed upper level low has embedded into the overall L/W trough pattern with a positive oriented tilt across the Dakotas to the Rockies with the PFJ dipping around its base. A few scattered snow showers linger across mainly eastward Sweetwater County extending from South Pass/Sweetwater Station but will slowly diminish as it exits to the southeast by sunrise Wednesday morning. Cold temperatures in the hard freeze warning criteria category for Wednesday morning for lower elevations east of the Divide before recovering to seasonable temperatures by afternoon.

Otherwise, expect upper level ridging to start building in later Wednesday, giving way to northwest flow aloft and ample convergence. Improved sky conditions and relatively light winds through the rest of Wednesday and into Thursday. A subtle shortwave propagates down the ridge, bringing some scattered showers for northeastern portions of the CWA, mainly for parts of the Bighorn Basin and mountains but minimal, if any, impacts expected. The pattern continues with northwest flow aloft with the PFJ remaining in far reaches of the northeast part of the state with another shortwave effecting the northeastern CWA again Saturday afternoon/evening. Minimal impacts expected once again but the overall pattern looks to be a mostly dry and warming trend into the weekend and next week. Ridging and northwest flow aloft continue with no significant weather systems of note on the horizon at this point in time.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1200 PM MDT Wed May 6 2026

Northwest flow has set up over the area in the wake of the previous system. This will lead to prevailing VFR conditions at terminals, though with occasional showers developing through the period. The first round of this activity will come around sunset at KJAC and then at KCOD around 06Z. Showers will continue to move southeast through tonight, impacting the KCPR area around sunrise Thursday. Impacts at remaining terminals are less certain and have omitted any mention of precipitation for now. Otherwise, a broken cloud deck will move in for most terminals tonight.

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.