868
FXUS65 KRIW 230840
AFDRIW
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
240 AM MDT MON MAR 23 2026
KEY MESSAGES
- DENSE HIGH CLOUDS CONTINUE ACROSS MOST OF THE STATE TODAY, BUT
NO PRECIPITATION EXPECTED.
- THE WARMING TREND CONTINUES TODAY, WITH HIGHS IN MOST
LOCATIONS REACHING THE 60S. THIS WARMING TREND CONTINUES INTO
MIDWEEK.
- GUSTIER WINDS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, ALONG WITH VERY DRY
CONDITIONS, WILL LEAD TO WIDESPREAD ELEVATED TO CRITICAL FIRE
WEATHER CONCERNS.
DISCUSSION
ISSUED AT 214 AM MDT MON MAR 23 2026
THE H5 RIDGE REMAINS SLIGHTLY FLATTENED TO THE SOUTH CURRENTLY,
ALLOWING FOR SOME MIDLEVEL MOISTURE TO POUR INTO THE REGION
FROM THE PACIFIC. THIS IS BRINGING SOME VARYING HIGH CIRRUS,
WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO SWEEP THROUGH TODAY. WITH YESTERDAY'S
COLD FRONT WELL TO THE EAST, THE WARMING TREND WILL KICK BACK IN
TODAY, WITH HIGHS MAINLY IN THE 60S.
STARTING TOMORROW, THE GRADIENT ACROSS THE START STARTS TO
TIGHTEN, LEADING TO ANOTHER ROUND OF GUSTY TO STRONG WINDS FOR
MOST LOCATIONS. THIS ALONG WITH DRY AIR WILL INCREASE THE FIRE
WEATHER THREAT. ELEVATED CONCERNS START TUESDAY, WITH NEAR
CRITICAL WINDS AND HUMIDITY WEDNESDAY, POSSIBLY EXTENDING INTO
THURSDAY. WILL BE HOISTING A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR THE DAY
WEDNESDAY FOR THIS SCENARIO.
ANOTHER COLD FRONT IS CURRENTLY ON TAP, WITH LATEST TIMING
RACING SOUTHWARD WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING. THERE MAY
BE ENOUGH MOISTURE FOR SOME LIGHT RAIN WITH THIS ACROSS FAR
NORTHERN WY, BUT ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE MINIMAL. A CONSIDERABLE
TEMPERATURE DROP IS NOTED WITH THIS FRONT, BRINGING HIGHS BACK
NEAR NORMAL IN THE 40S AND 50S, WITH LOWS DOWN INTO THE 20S.
AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/
ISSUED AT 1030 PM MDT SUN MAR 22 2026
VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD FOR ALL TAF SITES.
LIGHT WINDS OVERNIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING WITH SOME HIGH CLOUDS
SPILLING OVER THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE TO THE SOUTHWEST. OTHERWISE,
WINDS INCREASE AT BPI/PNA/RKS UP TO 25KTS AND CPR UP TO 18KTS
AFTER 16-18Z WITH DAYTIME HEATING AND MIXING TO THE SURFACE.
THEY WILL DIMINISH AFTER 01-02Z DUE TO RADIATIONAL COOLING, BUT
RIW WILL POSSIBLY SEE DRAINAGE WINDS AFTER THIS POINT INTO THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS AND THE END OF THE PERIOD BUT WITH LOW
CONFIDENCE (30-40%) CARRYING GUSTS UP TO 18KTS AT THIS POINT IN
TIME. NO OTHER WEATHER ELEMENTS ARE EXPECTED WITH DRY CONDITIONS
THROUGHOUT.
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...LOWE
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