Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
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330 FXUS65 KRIW 071730 AFDRIW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 1130 AM MDT Fri Jun 7 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Above normal temperatures will continue the threat of rising rivers and minor flooding today. - Isolated thunderstorms are possible today and Saturday, with a better chance of storms for Sunday and Monday. - Drier and warmer weather is likely to return for the middle of next week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 242 AM MDT Fri Jun 7 2024 We have two main concerns with the weather this morning. The first is the potential for convection and the second is for flooding concerns. I will address the flooding in a separate hydrology section. Radar currently shows a few light showers across southwestern Wyoming early this morning. These should not cause too much impact. An approaching cold front, although a weak one, will bring a chance for convection this afternoon and evening. There is not a ton of moisture to work with, so coverage should be fairly sparse and largely confined to the mountains (the chance is less than 1 out of 4 in most locations). There is a concern though with the threats. The Storm Prediction Center has put southwestern portions of our area under a Marginal risk of severe weather. With soundings showing the inverted V signature, there could be strong wind gusts with any thunderstorm or even an innocent looking shower, those infamous little green blobs. This looks largely like a diurnal event, but a few showers could linger in eastern Sweetwater County late tonight with some upper level divergence from a weak right rear / left front jet couplet. Otherwise, it looks like another warm to hot day with our warmer spots likely taking another run at 90 degrees. Wind will also be breezier than yesterday with the approaching front, but high wind is not expected. Saturday looks to be a slightly cooler day. There will be a few showers and storms around again. Most guidance is focusing the best coverage on southern portions of the area with a small jet stream moving through the flow. The best chance of showers and storms looks to be Sunday and Monday, as a deeper trough approaches the area with more moisture. Placement of heaviest precipitation is still in flux though. With more cloud cover, temperatures look near to below normal through the these two days. Following that, most guidance of the deterministic and ensemble varieties shows the ridge building back northward, bringing a return of above normal temperatures and lesser chances of precipitation. There could be a chance of a shortwave moving through from time to time, but there is little model agreement on this. The best chance would be across the north, but even here most areas should stay dry on any given day. We made few changes to continuity as a result. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1130 AM MDT Fri Jun 7 2024 VFR conditions will prevail through the entire period at all terminals. Slight chances for showers and thunderstorms will exist late this afternoon between 22Z and 04Z, with KJAC seeing the best chances (30%) for these showers and storms. Other showers and storms are possible across the west and southwest, with most of these being virga showers. A few gusty outflows are possible, however. Winds gusting 15 to 22kts will be common for most terminals during the late afternoon, with winds returning to light and variable or light drainage flows after 05Z. Cloud cover will increase Saturday morning for most terminals with several terminals seeing BKN high clouds 12Z Saturday ahead of a weak shortwave that will bring better shower chances by later Saturday afternoon and evening. Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on smoke, icing, and turbulence forecasts. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 242 AM MDT Fri Jun 7 2024 Another day of temperatures averaging 10 degrees above normal will continue high elevation snowmelt will continue the trend of rising rivers and minor flooding. We will continue the Flood Advisories for Medicine Lodge Creek, Ten Sleep Creek and the Popo Agie Rivers. Larger main stream rivers, especially the Wind and Little Wind Rivers, are seeing rises and will have to be monitored for possible rises today and into the weekend. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Hattings AVIATION...Hensley HYDROLOGY...Hattings