textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Anticipate highs in the upper 60s to upper 70s through Saturday. Other than low shower and thunderstorm chances (up to 30%) across the Wind Corridor on Friday afternoon, most will remain dry through Saturday.

- Breezy west to southwest winds are forecast each afternoon Friday through early week, especially across the Wind Corridor. - Shower and thunderstorm chances (50% to 90%) increase across much of Wyoming Sunday, with widespread precipitation chances Sunday afternoon through late Monday night. Cooler temperatures will also accompany these showers and thunderstorms back to near seasonable for this time of year.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 100 AM MDT Fri Sep 25 2026

IR currently depicts mainly clear skies for the northern half of the CWA with mid and upper level clouds spilling in from the south for southern portions of the state from a weak trough across northern Colorado. WV shows the main finger of the PFJ to the north dipping down from the Gulf of Alaska to the Pacific Northwest around the next main L/W trough that will affect the upper Rockies by Sunday. For Friday, expect a bit warmer than average temperatures and gusty winds due to an increasing pressure gradient ahead of an approaching west to east moving cold front Friday night into Saturday morning. Gusty winds 15 to 25 mph will be common for much of the area in the afternoon during peak heating and mixing, stronger for the wind corridor from Sweetwater to Natrona Counties where gusts could reach 30 to 35 mph. Winds look to weaken but remain elevated after sunset as the aforementioned cold front starts to push in out west before stalling along the Divide by sunrise Saturday morning. A little bit of model disagreement on how far it reaches, but overall, dry conditions will be expected. With the weak trough to the south, expect some isolated rain showers and thunderstorms to push across far eastern reaches of Sweetwater through Muddy Gap to Casper early to late afternoon with minimal accumulations and/or impacts expected. Otherwise, increased clouds throughout the CWA in the mid and upper levels ahead of the deepening trough to the west with increased divergence aloft ahead of it.

More seasonable temperatures west of the Divide Saturday with a bit above average to the east, dependent on how far east the cold front pushes. Gusty winds continue Saturday as well similar to Friday. As the main low skirts to the north across southern Canada late Saturday into Sunday, the southern end of the trough begins to cut off near California. This will deepen as well with the increased upper level divergence as it progresses slowly eastward bringing the more conducive southwest flow across the CWA. Expect scattered shower activity west of the Divide late Sunday morning, expanding to the east later Sunday evening and into the overnight hours and into Monday morning. The low pushes east, across the southern Rockies and into the high plains by Tuesday that will end precipitation chances. Accumulations at this time don't look overwhelming, but all areas have a decent chance for a wetting rain (>.1") around 50 to 90% in coverage, and again best west of the Divide. Mountain snow is likely as well, as temperatures become more seasonable and freezing levels drop to the 10-11kft range. An inch or two is possible in the higher elevations of the Winds (mainly the western side), along with the Absarokas and northern Bighorns. Any mountain passes should stay avoid of any snowfall but there is time for change being a few days out. Stay tuned for updated forecasts in the coming day or two for the models come into better agreement on the movement of the cut-off low from California through the southern Rockies.

Beyond Tuesday, expect upper level ridging to build back in from the southwest for the rest of the week and into the weekend. Temperatures will moderate back to seasonable Wednesday onward with dry conditions expected there on. The next system looks to impact the CWA and northern Rockies heading into the following weekend looking at the longer term model solutions but time will tell.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1030 PM MDT Thu Sep 24 2026

VFR conditions along with light winds of 5 to 10 knots are expected to prevail through the overnight into the morning hours Friday. Clouds will gradually increase especially east of the Divide and at KCPR. Showers may be possible in the morning hours around 12-14Z nearby KRKS but confidence at this time remains low. An isolated thunderstorm or two cannot be ruled out near KCPR in the afternoon around 20-23Z so a PROB30 group has been added for this chance. Otherwise the remaining terminals should stay dry through the TAF period. Winds do increase some by the early afternoon Friday with most terminals seeing speeds around 10 knots with gusts of 15 to 20 knots. Winds decrease after sunset becoming light to end the TAF period.

Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on smoke, icing, and turbulence forecasts.

RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.