textproduct: Western and Central Wyoming

KEY MESSAGES

- Temperatures gradually warm today into Friday with little to no chance of precipitation. Continued dry and breezy conditions will contribute to additional fire weather concerns.

- A system will bring showers and thunderstorms to areas along and east of the Continental Divide beginning Saturday morning. The Bighorns and Absarokas will be most favored for rain.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 214 AM MDT Thu Jun 18 2026

A pleasant day is on tap today, with seasonal temperatures and mostly sunny skies. The one negative aspect will be northwest winds gusting up to 30 mph over areas west of the Divide after 18Z. Fire weather conditions will continue to be elevated to critical this afternoon, with the highest concern being over southern portions where the aforementioned winds will combine with humidity values as low as 8%.

The rest of the forecast remains on track with little changes from previous packages. A ridge will build over the region from the west Friday, marking a return for temperatures in the upper 80s to near 90 degrees. Fire weather conditions will continue to be elevated to critical, with critical RH values (<15%) occurring across areas west of the Divide, including the western valleys, and central portions of the CWA. Mid to high clouds will begin to increase, in advance to the incoming remnant Pacific low. There is a 10% chance for a virga shower to occur under these clouds through the afternoon.

Chances for precipitation return for the weekend, as the Pacific low move over the region. Northern portions of the CWA look to have the best chances to receive any precipitation, with forecasted rainfall amounts trending downward slightly between 0.25" to 0.50" over Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Locally heavy rain remains possible from these storms, as precipitable water values of 0.60" to 1" are still forecasted. Precipitation chances could linger into Monday, as a Canadian cold front moves over the area. Dry conditions return to the region Tuesday, as a strong area of high pressure develops over the Desert Southwest. Initial indications suggest that shortwaves will move over the PACNW/Northern Rockies from Wednesday to Friday, keeping precipitation chances up and the ridge suppressed to the south.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 453 AM MDT Thu Jun 18 2026

SKC skies across much of the area, with clouds continuing to decrease over the Bighorns and Johnson County. Winds will be light, with terminals west of the Divide gusting up to 25kt after 18Z. Similar winds will impact KRIW and KLND around 23Z. Northerly/northeasterly winds will increase at KCOD and KCPR respectively around 01Z/02Z, subsiding after 06Z. FEW-SCT FL150-250 clouds will increase from the west after 22Z, spreading eastward across the forecast area through the rest of 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.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 214 AM MDT Thu Jun 18 2026

Elevated to critical fire weather conditions continue today, with critical RH values across southern zones, as well as zones 280 and 283. West-northwest winds, with gusts up to 30 mph will be confined to areas west of the Divide in the afternoon. Northeasterly winds increase over zones 280/281 after 1900, with gusts up to 30 mph. These winds will slowly decrease overnight tonight, ending by sunrise Friday morning.

Similar conditions return Friday, with westerly winds gusting up to 25 mph being mainly confined over areas west of the Divide. There will be a 10% chance for a virga shower across the area through the afternoon.

RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.