FXUS65 KRIW 060800

AFDRIW



Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service Riverton WY

200 AM MDT Wed May 6 2026



.KEY MESSAGES...



- Snow has tapered off with a few scattered showers pushing

  across eastern Sweetwater County through Wednesday morning. 



- Cold temperatures and freeze warnings in effect through mid

  Wednesday morning giving way to seasonable temperatures by

  afternoon and improved conditions. 



- Shortwave brings scattered showers for northeastern portions

  of the viewing area for Thursday and Saturday 

  afternoons/evenings with minimal impacts expected. 

 

- Dry and warming trend into the weekend and next week.



&&



.DISCUSSION...

Issued at 200 AM MDT Wed May 6 2026



IR currently depicts ample cloud cover across the southern half

of the CWA with improved conditions further north. The closed

upper level low has embedded into the overall L/W trough pattern

with a positive oriented tilt across the Dakotas to the Rockies

with the PFJ dipping around its base. A few scattered snow

showers linger across mainly eastward Sweetwater County

extending from South Pass/Sweetwater Station but will slowly

diminish as it exits to the southeast by sunrise Wednesday

morning. Cold temperatures in the hard freeze warning criteria

category for Wednesday morning for lower elevations east of the

Divide before recovering to seasonable temperatures by

afternoon. 



Otherwise, expect upper level ridging to start building in later

WEdnesday giving way to northwest flow aloft and ample

convergence. Improved sky conditions and relatively light winds

through the rest of Wednesday and into Thursday. A subtle

shortwave propagates down the ridge that will bring some

scattered showers for northeastern portions of the CWA, mainly

parts of the Bighorn Basin and Mountains but will minimal if any

impacts expected. The pattern continues with northwest flow

aloft with the PFJ remaining in far reaches of the northeast

part of the state with another shortwave effecting the

northeastern CWA again Saturday afternoon/evening. Minimal

impacts expected once again but the overall pattern looks to be

a mostly dry and warming trend into the weekend and next week.

Ridging and northwest flow aloft continue with no significant

weather systems of note on the horizon at this point in time. 



&&



.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/...

Issued at 945 PM MDT Tue May 5 2026



West of the Divide...KBPI/KJAC/KPNA/KRKS Terminals.



Marginal MVFR conditions will remain possible at KBPI/KPNA

through 10Z, with a 30% chance for light snow to impact KPNA as

a line of showers move over the site. These conditions are also

expected at KRKS, with east- northeast winds gusting up to 

30kt. These winds will decrease by 08Z. KJAC is expected to 

remain VFR with clearing skies, although surrounding mountains 

will be frequently obscured. Conditions will improve after 

sunrise Wednesday as skies clear through the rest of the 

morning, with lighter winds and SKC skies expected through the 

afternoon. Gusts around 20kt will occur in the afternoon at 

KJAC, KBPI and KPNA.



East of the Divide...KCOD/KCPR/KLND/KRIW/KWRL Terminals.



Snow will be waning at KRIW by the start of the TAF period, but

is expected to continue at KLND through 08Z. There is a 20-30%

for IFR/LIFR conditions to continue at KLND after the snow ends.

Skies will be clearing from north to south, with SKC skies

expected at KCOD by 09Z. This trend will continue through the

rest of the morning, with SKC skies expected across the area by

18Z. 



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...

Freeze Warning until 9 AM MDT this morning for WYZ003>006-010-

011-017-018-020.



Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM MDT this morning for WYZ019-

030.



&&



$$



DISCUSSION...Lowe

AVIATION...LaVoie