Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY

Home | Current Version | Previous Version | Graphics & Text | Print | Product List | Glossary Off
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41

000
FXUS65 KRIW 242149
AFDRIW

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Riverton WY
349 PM MDT Sun Mar 24 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Snow continues through tonight before tapering off.

- Gusty winds across northern Wyoming continue through this
  evening, with some gusts 40 to 50 mph.

- Light snow chances continue for the western mountains each day
  through the rest of the week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 143 PM MDT Sun Mar 24 2024

Just to show that the weather in Wyoming can, indeed, change on
a dime, temperatures today are 30 to 40 degrees colder than
yesterday, and there is a fresh layer of snow across most of the
region. The H5 trough has shifted across the region, which has
drawn the late season cold pool southward across the state.
Northerly winds have been favorable to uplift along the Wind
River, Owl Creek, and Absarokas, which has provided good
snow accumulations this morning and afternoon. As the northerly
winds begin to relax this evening, the snow rates will decrease
quickly but most cloud cover will hang tough through most of the
night. Note that if there are any breaks in the cloud cover
overnight, there is the potential for significant Aurora
Borealis displays, which would be visible for the entire state.

The trough axis shifts just to the east by Monday morning, with
northwest flow setting up for the western half of the state.
This will provide some light orographic snowfall for the western
mountains, but will also set up some convective snow bands
across northern and central WY during the afternoon. Any of
these bands could produce a quick 1 to 2 inches of snowfall in
smaller areas. Light snow will continue for the western
mountains through midweek as the northwest flow aloft continues.

Models then take the next larger trough and stall it along the
west coast for the latter half of the week into next weekend.
This will keep the western mountains in a better moisture tap
from the Pacific, continuing the light snow into the weekend.
Whether this precipitation reaches east of the divide is still
unclear, as models are still differing on the amplitude of the
western trough, and the resulting moisture tap from the
Pacific.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 349 PM MDT Sun Mar 24 2024

Snow showers should decrease to start the TAF period, ending by
06Z/Mon most locations. Low clouds may linger at some sites
overnight, keeping mainly MVFR conditions. Otherwise, VFR to marginal
MVFR conditions return to sites as snow ends and low clouds slowly
dissipate. Wind gusts will also decrease this evening and into the
night.

For Monday afternoon, snow bands and snow showers look to develop.
Confidence is very low at this time for locations that could be
effected. Have indicated potential locations with VCSH. May have to
add KLND and KRIW for future TAF issuances if confidence increases.

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...
Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MDT this evening for
WYZ001>003-005-007-012-014-015-024.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Straub
AVIATION...Wittmann


USA.gov is the U.S. government's official web portal to all federal, state and local government web resources and services.