


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
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687 FXUS65 KRIW 061709 AFDRIW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 1109 AM MDT Sat Sep 6 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered showers and thunderstorms for southwestern Wyoming after noon through sunset. Atmospheric moisture is above normal, and storms will be slow moving, leading to a small chance (5 to 10%) of brief flooding of dry washes. - Near seasonal temperatures today, warming to about 5 degrees above normal for Sunday through Wednesday. Cooldown expected later in the week. - Isolated showers and thunderstorms expected Sunday, with basins having a 10 to 20% chance of seeing measurable precipitation in the vicinity. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1055 AM MDT Sat Sep 6 2025 Looking at 1200Z high-resolution model guidance, the previous forecast remains largely on track. MLCAPE values west of the Continental Divide, where showers and thunderstorms are forecast, are notably lower than surface based values, showing 150 to 250 J/kg, meaning storms are unlikely to be strong. The additional atmospheric moisture over southwestern Wyoming will keep inverted V soundings from being quite as wide, with smaller T-Td spreads at the surface, leading to outflow winds being more mellow, likely gusting 35 to 45 mph in general. Since storms will be slow moving, there is a small chance (5 to 10%) for isolated flooding in normally dry washes and locations with poor drainage. Thunderstorms should quickly diminish after sunset, but a few showers could persist until around midnight. Despite low afternoon relative humidities (12 to 18 percent) east of the Divide, surface winds this afternoon should be minimal, keeping the fire weather conditions there more benign. In the southwestern part of the state where gusty outflow winds are more likely, the air mass will be more moist, keeping relative humidities higher. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 140 AM MDT Fri Sep 5 2025 Mostly dry and smoky conditions will be in place again today, as the ridge that has been to the west begins to shift eastward over the region. As a result of this eastward shift, a shortwave trough will move over areas west of the Divide this afternoon and increase moisture levels across this area. This will result in showers and thunderstorms being possible along and west of a Jackson-to- Wamsutter line. Any convection is expected to come from Uinta County and move into southern Lincoln and western Sweetwater counties around 20Z. Showers and thunderstorms will then become more widespread through the rest of the afternoon as the trough approaches the state. Thunderstorms are not expected to be strong or severe, as SBCAPE values will range between 500-1000 J/kg and the greater levels of instability will be confined to southern Lincoln and western Sweetwater counties. Outflow wind gusts up to 40 mph, brief heavy rain and lightning will be the main threats. This activity will become isolated after 06Z and is not expected to impact areas east of the Divide. This will be due to the continued cyclonic flow that will be in place due to the upper low over the Upper Midwest. This is the same upper low that is associated with the cold front that moved through on Thursday. Speaking of, conditions will be dry east of the Divide today with elevated fire weather conditions. Critical RH values will return across the Bighorn Basin this afternoon, with values of 14 to 18 percent occurring in the Wind River Basin and Johnson and Natrona counties. Highs will be about 10 degrees warmer, with readings in the lower 80s returning in the central basins. The smoky/hazy skies will remain in place today. The ridge axis will be over the Cowboy State by Sunday, with a broad ridge remaining in place on Monday. The timing for the next shortwave trough has slowed somewhat and now looks to reach southwestern MT/the Monida Pass area around 03Z. Additionally, the remnants from Saturdays shortwave will continue to move over the state and exit over eastern portions by Sunday afternoon. These features will result in precipitation chances being more widely scattered across the forecast area. Once again, severe thunderstorms are not expected. Even though there will be modest instability, there is no good upper level support. Any upper level diffluence associated with the PFJ will be over OR. Otherwise, the warming trend over areas east of the Divide will continue, along with elevated fire weather conditions. Winds are expected to remain light, outside of any outflow boundaries. The smoky/hazy conditions could begin to improve Sunday as well due to this activity and the upper level flow pattern shifting. Conditions look to remain dry Monday, as a more diffluent flow pattern aloft looks to take shape. This will be due to an upper level low over the EPAC moving onshore over the PACNW. Temperatures will be much warmer as a result, with highs in the middle to upper 80s returning to areas east of the Divide. Chances for widespread precipitation look to be in place again Tuesday. This will be due to a shortwave trough rounding the base of the upper low and moving over WY through the afternoon and evening. These chances look to return again Wednesday and Thursday, as a second upper low develops and digs a longwave trough further south over CA/NV. This will lead to embedded shortwaves rounding the base of the trough and increasing moisture from the south. The CA/NV low looks to become the more dominant feature with widespread precipitation chances continuing into Thursday. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1109 AM MDT Sat Sep 6 2025 Smoke continues across much of the area, with visibilities from 4 to 10 miles. To start the period, smoke is most concentrated across western Wyoming (KBPI, KJAC, KPNA). A shortwave moves through late today through tonight from the southwest. This will push the smoke towards the northeast, with lessening concentrations over the west and southwest, and increasing over the north and east sites (KCPR, KCOD, KLND, KRIW, KWRL). Though some smoke will still remain, the thickest should be exiting to the northeast late Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon. The aforementioned shortwave also brings shower and thunderstorm chances for western sites, (KBPI, KJAC, KPNA, KRKS) mainly between 22z and 06z. A few earlier showers and storms are possible over the mountains west of KBPI and around KJAC, starting about 20z. PROB30 groups were included in mentioned TAFs to account for these 20% to 40% chances. Gusty outflow wind up to 30 knots is the main hazard. Notably, as this wave moves to the northeast. there could be some gusty winds coming off the mountains west of KCOD, so have included wind shear there starting about 03z. 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... Air Quality Alert until 1 PM MDT Sunday for WYZ001-002-012>019- 023>030. && $$ UPDATE...VandenBoogart DISCUSSION...LaVoie AVIATION...Wittmann