textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Skies will remain mostly clear overnight, with some high clouds skirting northwest WY overnight, and increasing over northern WY Saturday morning. Temperatures Saturday morning will again generally dip into the 20s and 30s across western and central WY.

- High pressure over the central Rockies will keep skies mostly clear to partly cloudy for the weekend, with no precipitation expected. Temperatures will remain on the warm side, reaching the upper 50s west of the divide, and the 60s to lower 70s east of the divide. Saturday will see breezy and gusty winds from southwest/southern WY into central and north-central WY. - Clouds increase from the southwest on Monday, with rain chances (20-30%) across western WY starting Tuesday night and continuing through Thursday. Precipitation chances increase (30-50%) across much of western and central WY Thursday into Friday, with some snow possible in the NW WY mountains Friday night.

UPDATE

Issued at 1231 PM MDT Fri Oct 16 2026

No major changes to the forecast with this update. Seasonal to slightly above normal temperatures continue through the week, with no precipitation expected until at least Tuesday (across far western Wyoming). Saturday looks to be the warmest day for the next week, with highs in the 60s. Around Buffalo, temperatures have an 80 percent chance to exceed 75 degrees.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 229 AM MDT Fri Oct 16 2026

High pressure will remain the dominant feature this weekend, deflecting weather systems into southern Canada. Temperatures today will recover back into the 50s after starting in the 20s across the state. The ridge will bring even warmer temperatures on Saturday, with highs west of the divide around 60 degrees, while areas across central WY reach well into the 60s. Gusty southwest winds reaching 30 mph will sweep from Rock Springs northeast across Casper into northeast Wyoming. These warmer winds will bring even warmer temperatures across Johnson County Saturday, with highs well into the 70s.

A weak cold front is dragged southward late Saturday from a weather system crossing southern Canada. This will bring light north winds back into central WY, bringing high temps back down into the 50s for Sunday.

The next weather impact into next week depends on placement of the trough dropping down the West Coast. Moisture wrapping around the bottom of the trough may feed into southwest WY for the latter half of the week, bringing a chance for showers. Currently models have been leaning away from any significant rainfall, and have been delaying the initial arrival of the moisture farther into next week.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 944 PM MDT Fri Oct 16 2026

High pressure continues and the result is mostly light wind, clear skies, and VFR conditions through the TAF period. Wind will remain below 10 knots at most terminals. There will be a bit more wind Saturday afternoon with increasing wind at KCOD, KCPR, KJAC, and KRKS either late morning or early afternoon. Generally, wind will be 10-15 knots with gusts around 20 knots at the aforementioned terminals. KCPR will have stronger wind 20-25 knots with gusts 30-35 knots.

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.