textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Increasing snow shower activity after sunset and overnight as another cold front pushes through.

- Cold temperatures get reinforced behind the front overnight and for Sunday.

- Dry conditions and warming trend for much of next week.

UPDATE

Issued at 1230 PM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

Forecast still on track with no significant changes expected. IR continues to show cold cloud tops pushing in from Canada around the base of the main upper level trough. A cold front on track to push through after sunset and overnight with increasing snow chances for the Bighorn Basin and points east. This will progress further south after midnight into the Wind River Basin to Natrona County before exiting by early Sunday afternoon. Accumulations limited with no impacts expected. Cold air remains on the cold side through Sunday and Monday morning ahead of a warmup and dry conditions for the next work week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 108 AM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

The coldest air of what has been a very mild winter has settled in across the region. Temperatures have begun to rapidly drop as cloud cover has dissipated over much of the state this morning. Thankfully many location do not have snow on the ground, as we would likely be looking at temperatures 10 to 15 degrees colder than what they are at the moment. That being said, current observations as of 0100 MST are still on the chilly side with many locations, especially east of the Divide seeing temperatures already below zero. The coldest spots are across portions of the Bighorn Basin along with Johnson and Natrona Counties. Temperatures here have already begun to drop near -10F with colder temperatures forecast by sunrise. Temperatures Saturday will still be chilly with highs currently forecast to be in the upper teens to low 20s. One thing to monitor will be whether or not any inversions develop and if they can be broken during the day. This may occur in locations such as the Bighorn Basin and the Wind River Basin where winds look to remain rather light through the day Saturday. If inversions were to develop and remain in place high temperatures would be cooler than what is currently forecast.

Most of Saturday will be chilly and mainly quiet through at least the first half of the day. A shortwave does look to near the area by the late evening Saturday which will gradually usher in the chance for some snow showers across northern WY. These showers make their way south as the axis moves south over the state during the morning hours on Sunday. A shift in flow due to a cold front passage in association with this shortwave, may lead to a brief period of favorable upsloping flow over northerly flow favored areas. However, this window looks to be short lived and as a result, impacts likely remain very minimal. Probabilistic guidance is only showing a 30-60% chance for snow accumulations of 0.5 inches or more over portions of central and northern WY. Higher elevation mountain ranges may see more in terms of snow accumulations with forecasted amounts ranging from a trace to two inches. Showers dissipate through the late morning and early afternoon Sunday with temperatures remaining cold across nearly all of the state. Highs are forecast to range from the low teens to low 20s with the coldest temperatures being over central and eastern WY.

Unfortunately, the short taste of a normal Wyoming winter comes to an end to start the work week. Ridging is expected to build back in over the western CONUS leading to a return of the all too familiar mild and mainly quiet weather conditions. Highs rebound as early as Monday with temperatures back in the 30s to low 40s. Mild temperatures persist with highs remaining in the 30s to 40s through much of the upcoming week. Ridging will keep most disturbances well out of the area with the one exception being a potential system by the second half of the week. However, models are showing this system remain too far south of the area to bring any noteworthy impacts. At the moment there may be a small chance for an isolated shower or two across far western/southern WY Thursday into Friday. Otherwise, like a never ending nightmare, ridging is likely to persist across the region with mild and dry conditions prevailing, while active and cold weather remains well to the east of WY. Long range models are showing early indications of this mild and dry pattern persisting into the start of February but there is still time to see how things truly pan out. If the past two month are any indications I would put my money on the mild and dry conditions prevailing.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/

Issued at 425 PM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

West of the Divide...KBPI/KJAC/KPNA/KRKS Terminals.

Gusty winds at KBPI and KPNA will diminish and become relatively light by 03Z. A cold front approaches the area from the north overnight and will bring clouds, mountain obscurations, snow, and reduced flight conditions. Confidence is highest that KJAC will see MVFR flight conditions overnight with improvement around sunrise on Sunday (13Z-14Z). There is a 30% chance of snow at KPNA and these chances are reflected in a PROB30 group. There is a 10-20% chance of snow and reduced flight conditions at KRKS and KBPI but given the lower chances there is no mention in TAF at this time. However, occasional instances of MVFR ceilings cannot be completely ruled out at these two terminals. Winds become gusty at the end of the TAF period at KRKS, KBPI, and KPNA which should help scatter any lower clouds out.

East of the Divide...KCOD/KCPR/KLND/KRIW/KWRL Terminals.

A cold front is on track to approach the area from the north early in the TAF period, bringing mountain obscurations, snow chances, and reduced flight conditions to KCOD and KWRL first. Confidence has increased that direct impacts and MVFR flight conditions will most likely begin around 06Z. There is uncertainty as to when a heavier period of snow will begin at KCOD, and this is reflected in a PROB30 group. KCPR should begin to see snow and the potential for reduced flight conditions after 11Z. There is a 30% chance of light snow at KRIW and KLND. However, at KRIW and KLND there is high enough confidence (around 50%) for MVFR ceilings with and behind the front. Otherwise, winds remain relatively light at all east of the Divide terminals.

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.