142
FXUS65 KRIW 061045
AFDRIW

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Riverton WY
445 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 /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 445 AM MDT Wed May 6 2026

VFR conditions at all TAF sites as any precipitation has pushed
southeast and east of LND/CPR/RKS out of the CWA. A slight
breeze west of the Divide and CPR after 21-22Z with daytime
heating and mixing to the surface, diminishing after 01-02Z with
radiational cooling towards sunset. Otherwise, mainly clear
skies will turn to increasing high clouds after 08-09Z Thursday
morning ahead of the next shortwave to the northeast. Dry
conditions expected and any precipitation with this next system
Thursday will remain northeast and north of COD/WRL/CPR not
expecting to be on station for any TAF location.

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...Lowe