FXUS65 KRIW 061800

AFDRIW



Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service Riverton WY

1200 PM MDT Wed May 6 2026



.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.



&&



.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.



&&



$$



DISCUSSION...Lowe

AVIATION...Myers