Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
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804 FXUS65 KRIW 051742 AFDRIW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 1142 AM MDT Wed Jun 5 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Warm, dry, and windy conditions expected today leading to elevated fire weather concerns this afternoon. - Warming trend continues through the end of the week. Showers are possible on Friday (25-50 percent), but most of the area will remain dry. - Weekend will see a better chance of afternoon showers. - Increased mountain snowmelt expected given warming temperatures. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 341 AM MDT Wed Jun 5 2024 Warm and dry conditions are expected across the area today as ridging increases over the region. This will mark the beginning of a warming trend through the end of the week, with the potential for three consecutive days of the warmest temperatures of the year thus far for many locations. Today, highs will peak 8-9 degrees above normal, or generally in the upper 70s west of the Divide and lower 80s east. The one exception today will be across the northern half of Johnson County. This area will get clipped by a cold pool associated with a weak front dropping south out of Montana, keeping high temperatures more around normal. Otherwise, with aligned 700mb and upper level flow sandwiched between the ridge and a trough to our east it will be another windy day for the area. Wind will ramp up through the morning, with west/northwesterly gusts of 30+ mph across western, central, and southern Wyoming. The Bighorn and Powder River basins will see a more northerly wind as the front pushes south through the afternoon. With the dry and windy day, elevated fire weather conditions are expected for much of the area through the afternoon. Wind will quickly decrease with sunset. Temperatures warm further on Thursday, with nearly all lower elevations seeing temperatures in the 80s. A few locations may reach 90. With the warmer and drier airmass, humidity will drop to around/below 15 percent, keeping elevated fire weather conditions going. Lower wind speeds will play a mitigating factor in this, however. Models are hinting at a weak shortwave arriving in the Thursday night/Friday timeframe. This added lift combined with slightly increased Pacific moisture will return shower chances to the area, with the best chances Friday afternoon. However, chances remain on the lower side (generally below 50 percent), and most of the area will be dry and warm once again. Given the warming temperatures through the week, rivers and streams will continue to be monitored for flooding potential as mountain snowmelt increases. The overall ridging pattern is currently favored to persist through the weekend, though with continued disturbances moving through the flow. Accordingly, the forecast reflects a still warm but slightly cooler weekend, with better chances for afternoon convection both days. Model solutions diverge dramatically by early next week. Ensemble cluster mean guidance currently favors anomalously high 500mb heights to persist through next week. This would keep warm and mostly dry conditions across the area. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 1139 AM MDT Wed Jun 5 2024 Mostly clear skies and VFR conditions will prevail today. Winds have increased with gusts around 25 kt. Gusts of 30 to 35 kt will occur at KCPR, KRKS, KRIW and KBPI. These winds will once again decrease by 02Z, becoming 12kt or less. A notable shift to the north- northeast will also occur for terminals east of the Divide after 00Z. Thursday will see an increase in high clouds, but otherwise remain dry. Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on smoke, icing, and turbulence forecasts. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Myers AVIATION...Hattings/Swanson