Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
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301 FXUS65 KRIW 161127 AFDRIW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 427 AM MST Sun Nov 16 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Some showers return to western Wyoming today, one more dry and mild day East of the Divide. - Rain and mountain snow spread across the area tonight and Monday, with the heaviest snow expected across the western mountains. - Much of next week looks cooler and potentially wetter, but details and timing of systems and rain and snow amounts remain uncertain. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 112 AM MST Sun Nov 16 2025 It looks like the honeymoon of the unusually mild weather we have had for the first half of November is coming to an end and the weather will be giving us a slap back into reality. Radar is showing some echoes across western Wyoming this morning, but basically none are reaching the ground as of 1 am. Today continues to look drier as guidance continues to slow the arrival of the precipitation. As a result, we have lowered POPs and QPF through the daylight hours. Today will be one more mild day, especially East of the Divide which will be likely be dry through the daylight hours. Many locations will see highs in the 60s, likely for the last time this calendar year. A gusty breeze will again develop across the wind corridor from Muddy Gap through Casper, but high wind is not expected. Precipitation will overspread much of the area between tonight and Monday, with the steadiest and heaviest expected from midnight through noon on Monday as the best upper level divergence and jet support move over the state. The reasoning of the forecast remains fairly similar to yesterday. The area of most concern will be the Tetons where Teton and Togwotee pass have a greater than 1 in 2 chance of 6 inches of snow or more through the period. Given the possible impacts to travel over Teton and Togwotee Passes, we went ahead and issued a Winter Weather Advisory for this zone, although it was borderline. Other areas, like the highest elevations of the Salt and Wyoming Range as well as the western Wind River Range also have at least a 1 in 2 chance of 6 inches of snow or more. However, these are away from the passes and with impacts expected to be limited we elected to hold off for now. The day shift can take another look and see if any additional highlights are needed since the greatest impact would not be until later tonight. This will be mainly a mountain snow event though. The 700 millibar temperatures generally only fall to around minus 3 celsius, which would put snow levels around 7000 feet. And this is by Monday morning when the best lift moves out of the area. Places like Bondurant could see a couple of slushy inches and even Pinedale could see a slushy inch or so. The Jackson and Star Valleys would likely only see a coating. Odds are less than 1 out of 3 for three inches in all these areas, so we will not issue any advisories. As for East of the Divide, with 700 millibar temperatures only falling to minus 1 celsius, snow levels should remain above 8000 feet, with only rain for the populated areas. There are still some disagreement on placement of the heaviest amounts though, so we broadbrushed things for now. Most precipitation should end from south to north starting Monday afternoon as the upper level low moves away to the north and east. Cooler weather then moves in for Monday through much of next week. However, with flow largely west or southwesterly, temperatures will remain near to somewhat above normal through the week. Tuesday looks mainly dry with only a few showers in northern Wyoming. Following that, we have the same conundrum as previous days. We do look more unsettled through the period. However, there are still large disagreements in the guidance in regard to timing and movement of a couple of systems moving through. So, although confidence remains fairly high in a cooler and more unsettled pattern, details remain highly uncertain. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/... Issued at 427 AM MST Sun Nov 16 2025 West of the Divide...KBPI/KJAC/KPNA/KRKS Terminals VFR conditions will persist across western terminals to start the period. Mid to high SCT-BKN clouds are expected to gradually build across the region today in association with a nearing disturbance. Winds remain light from the south/west through the first half of the period. Showers begin to move into the region around 15Z Sunday, first at KJAC. PROB30 group is in place due to the uncertainty regarding direct impacts from showers to the terminal. Showers dissipate during the afternoon with the next round of precipitation arriving after 00Z Monday. Showers may start around KRKS by 02Z with other terminals such as KJAC, KPNA, and KBPI seeing showers by 05- 06Z Monday. Due to warm temperatures precipitation may initially fall as rain or a mix before likely turning over to snow by the morning hours Monday. Precipitation is expected to prevail at western terminals through the end of the TAF period. MVFR to IFR conditions may be possible at times due to dropping ceilings and visibilities. Winds look to increase along with this push of moisture leading to some terminals seeing winds of 10-15 knots with gusts of 20-25 knots. Mountains will be obscured through much of if not all of the the TAF period. Obscuration likely increases by the afternoon/evening on Sunday as precipitation increases and ceilings lower. East of the Divide...KCOD/KCPR/KLND/KRIW/KWRL Terminals VFR conditions prevail across all terminals to start the TAF period. Mid to high SCT-BKN clouds will continue to gradually build in over the region throughout the day today. Winds remain light across most terminals with KCPR being the only exception seeing winds of 15 to 20 knots and gusts around 30 knots starting by 18Z Sunday. Precipitation begins to make its way east of the Divide shortly after 06Z Sunday. Showers look to start developing nearby KCPR first then chances increase at KLND and KRIW afterwards. Temperatures look to warm for snow to fall at most terminals except for KCPR which may see brief periods of mixing or wet snowfall at times. KWRL and KCOD see precipitation chances increase around 10Z Monday. Precipitation will linger across all terminals through the end of the TAF period. Showers may produce periods of MVFR or IFR conditions especially at KCPR, KLND, and KRIW by the early morning hours Monday. Winds increase at KCPR and KRIW as precipitation begins to move into the area with winds of 10 to 15 knots with gusts nearing 20 knots at times. Mountain obscuration will gradually increase through the TAF period especially after 00Z Monday through the end of the period. Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZLC and ZDV for the latest information on smoke, icing, and turbulence forecasts. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 5 PM MST Monday for WYZ012. && $$ DISCUSSION...Hattings AVIATION...Dziewaltowski