857 FXUS65 KRIW 282334 AFDRIWArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 534 PM MDT Sun Sep 28 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Widely scattered (20-30%) showers and thunderstorms across western portions this afternoon and evening.
- Chances are low (10-20%) for locally heavy rain with the stronger storms this afternoon.
- Shower and thunderstorms will be possible over western portions again on Tuesday.
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.UPDATE... Issued at 150 PM MDT Sun Sep 28 2025
Open wave continues to sweep northward and weaken. There is still enough energy and moisture to spark showers and thunderstorms along the higher terrain, but this is having trouble moving off the terrain. With available moisture still above normal, some showers could produce a quick tenth to two- tenths of rainfall as they pass. Showers will be ending quickly this evening with loss of daytime heating, with mostly clear skies expected. The open trough axis will be to the northeast most of Tuesday, so shower activity will be more isolated in nature and still restricted to higher elevations.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 125 AM MDT Sun Sep 28 2025
Not much change in the forecast. 05Z satellite imagery shows clouds beginning to increase from the south over Sweetwater and Lincoln counties and the Upper Green River Basin. Weak virga showers are also showing up on radar in these areas. Moisture/clouds will continue to stream northward this morning and through the day today, leading to widely scattered (20-30%) showers and thunderstorms to occur over mainly western portions of the CWA through the afternoon. Some of these showers/storms will spill over near Dubois, Meeteetse and Cody, as the come off the east slopes of the Wind River and Absaroka Mountains. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph will be the main threat, as T/Td spreads will be around 40 degrees. Locally heavy rain cannot be ruled out from the stronger storms either, as PWATs of 0.6" to 0.8" will be in place by late this afternoon. This, coupled with generally weak steering flow, could lead to brief heavy downpours. Any remaining shower or storm is expected to end by midnight (06Z), with isolated weak showers remaining possible over the central basins through 09Z. Otherwise, temperatures will continue to be above normal for areas east of the Divide and near normal west of the Divide.
A cutoff low, that has been nearly stationary over the Desert Southwest the last few days, will begin to fill today and get kicked from a significant longwave trough over the EPAC. This trough will be the focus for the next week. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will be possible over the western mountains again, including areas near Dubois and Cody. Otherwise, conditions will be somewhat similar to today.
The longwave trough will move onshore over the West Coast Monday night into Tuesday, filling and weakening as it does so. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible over western portions Tuesday afternoon as a result. A southwest flow pattern will Wednesday through Friday, as a closed low associated with the longwave trough will make little progression eastward due to a strong high center over the mid-Mississippi River Valley. No embedded shortwave troughs are expected to move over the Cowboy State Wednesday and Thursday, keeping conditions dry. Elevated fire weather conditions do not look as likely Thursday, as 700mb winds have decreased to 20-30 kt. Model consensus begins to diverge by Friday due to this high center (coincidentally, this will also likely affect the forecast for Tropical Depression 9), with the ECMWF weakening both the high and PACNW low and bringing widespread precipitation chances across the CWA as the trough moves over the region. Strangely, the GFS is the slower solution and keeps the low closed as it digs southward over northern CA/NV. This would keep precipitation chances to western portions of the state Friday afternoon into Saturday morning.
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.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 533 PM MDT Sun Sep 28 2025
VFR conditions are expected to prevail throughout much of the TAF period. However, lowering cloud decks as a result of developing showers and thunderstorms may lead to brief periods of MVFR/IFR conditions. The best chances for showers and thunderstorms remains at KJAC, KCOD, KBPI, and KPNA through 04Z Monday. PROB30 groups for thunderstorm showers remain at KLND and KRIW until 03Z Monday. KCPR may see an isolated shower around the start of the period but confidence is low. Clouds are expected to decrease overnight with some mid level clouds lingering into the late morning Monday. Winds remain light through much of the TAF period sitting around 10 to 15 knots at most. Stronger wind gusts of 20 to 30 knots may be possible nearby any developing showers and thunderstorms. Another round of showers and thunderstorms look to develop once again during the afternoon and evening Monday. The best chances for precipitation remains across western terminals such as KCOD, KJAC, KRKS, KPNA, and KBPI. Chances for showers and thunderstorms will remain through the end of the TAF period at these locations.
Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on smoke, icing, and turbulence forecasts.
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.RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None.
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UPDATE...Straub DISCUSSION...LaVoie AVIATION...Dziewaltowski
NWS RIW Office Area Forecast Discussion