


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
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175 FXUS65 KRIW 090332 AFDRIW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 932 PM MDT Tue Jul 8 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Very hot conditions with widespread 90s and some locations getting close to the triple digit mark Wednesday. The lowest elevations of the Bighorn and Wind River Basins have a 40-70 percent chance of 100 degree highs Wednesday. - Elevated fire weather conditions continue Wednesday. Humidity will be very low, but wind gusts will be limited through the afternoon. - Isolated virga showers will also be possible Wednesday. Wind gusts of 55 to 60 mph will be the main threat from any shower that forms. - Another round of showers is possible for southern WY near dawn Thursday morning, spreading north and east during the afternoon. Overall chances of any accumulation remain low. A trailing trough from Canada brings cooler temperatures for Friday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 100 PM MDT Tue Jul 8 2025 The current H5 ridge centered on the Four Corners will continue to provide hot temperatures into the day Wednesday. H7 temps will be 15 to 18C during the afternoon tomorrow, which translates down to sfc temps in the mid to upper 90s, especially for the Wind River and Bighorn basins. An approaching shortwave trough will nudge down the ridge during the afternoon, bringing enough instability for some isolated showers during peak heating Wednesday afternoon, mainly along the highest elevations. Sfc dry air remains low, so getting showers to the sfc will be tough, but some gusty winds may accompany any showers. The approach of the trough will also bring some higher wind gusts in the afternoon, bringing a fire weather threat (see below). The trough succeeds in chopping off the top of the ridge, bringing some increased moisture late Wednesday night. Enough instability comes along with the trough for some showers for SW WY Thursday morning. The showers then spread north and east during the afternoon. Most accumulations will remain light, so some dry lightning could be an issue for SW WY. Following along behind this system will be a secondary trough dropping southeast out of Canada Thursday night into Friday. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible along the cold front as it sweeps south, mainly east of the Divide. The most noticeable difference will be the change in temperature, as highs Friday will be a good 20 to 30 degrees cooler than the dry desert heat of Wednesday east of the Divide. The colder temps will likely not reach south and west of the Divide, so areas from KJAC to KRKS will again reach the lower to mid 80s Thursday and Friday. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 930 PM MDT Tue Jul 8 2025 VFR conditions throughout the period for all TAF sites. Light winds and mainly clear skies overnight under the radiational inversion. Winds and upper level clouds will increase for all locations after 18-20Z with daytime heating and mixing to the surface. Most locations will gust up to 18kts with RKS the highest, peaking at 25kts. Any shower activity will be limited and not expected on station, but RKS will have the only real shot from a stray one and random stronger gust of wind in the late afternoon/evening. Winds will diminish after 01-02Z with nighttime cooling once again. However, a couple models are indicating a stronger wind gusting up to 30 plus knots at LND after 03Z that are of higher reliability. This is reflected in the TAF currently but will monitor in the next TAF cycle or two. Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on smoke, icing, and turbulence forecasts. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 137 AM MDT Tue Jul 8 2025 Widespread elevated fire weather conditions return Wednesday as temperatures increase and critical RHs spread. Wednesday will be the hottest and driest day, with widespread afternoon RHs 8 to 15 percent. Gusty winds will increase ahead of the next trough, with frequent gusts reaching 20mph, with higher gusts in the higher elevations. Red Flag Warnings currently look unlikely, due to the lack of dry air, gusty winds above 25 mph, and cured fuels in the same locations. Overnight Wednesday night, the trough moves into southern WY, bringing some scattered thunderstorms. Surface humidity remain fairly low, so some of the lightning may occur outside of any wetting rainfall areas. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Straub AVIATION...Lowe FIRE WEATHER...Straub/Wittmann