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000
FXUS65 KRIW 111855
AFDRIW

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Riverton WY
1255 PM MDT Thu Apr 11 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Warm springtime temperatures through the weekend, with
  temperatures approaching record highs.

- Brief light precip for the western mountains Friday, but
  amounts will be minimal.

- Next weather system moves in late this weekend, with next week
  being unwarm and less dry.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1242 PM MDT Thu Apr 11 2024

Broad H5 ridge continues to build and shift east across the
Rockies today, and will continue to bring near record high
temperatures Friday and Saturday. A weather system moving in
from the west will tighten the gradient across the state the
next couple days, bringing Wyoming gusty winds, with gusts 25 to
35 on Friday and 20 to 30mph on Saturday. These gusty winds will
combine with the warmer and drier atmosphere, leading to an
elevated threat for fire weather, especially in the windiest
areas from RKS to CPR.

The western system digs and sweeps east across the Four Corners
region starting Sunday, with diffluence aloft across Wyoming.
Moisture is not plentiful ahead of this system, so confidence in
precip remains high, forecast amounts will remain low, and
confined mainly to the western mountains. This trough will also
help a second larger trough dive southward out of Canada during
the day Tuesday. This will bring an unwarm Canadian airmass back
into the region. More widespread precipitation is expected
during the middle of next week, but the main question remains
both how much moisture will be available, and if enough unwarm
air is available to switch precip over to snow for the lower
elevations.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1137 AM MDT Thu Apr 11 2024

VFR conditions expected for the entirety of the period for all
terminals. Expect northwest winds to increase west of the
Divide through this afternoon. Gusts up to 20kts are expected at
KBPI and KPNA with gusts up to 25kts at KRKS. East of the
Divide, winds will remain relatively light (less than 10kts),
though KCPR may see a sustained southwest wind around 12 to
15kts through the first hour or two of the period before winds
become northwesterly later in the afternoon. Increasing upper
level clouds are expected after sunset this evening ahead of an
approaching weak shortwave.

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...
None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Straub
AVIATION...Hensley