940
FXUS65 KRIW 121101
AFDRIW

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Riverton WY
401 AM MST Wed Nov 12 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Warmer than average temperatures (5 to 15 degrees) and dry
  conditions continue through Thursday.

- Increasing precipitation chances west of the Divide Friday
  and into the weekend, although a decreasing trend to
  accumulating snow for the western mountains.

- Active pattern continues into next week as well with more
  seasonable temperatures and wetter conditions to be had going
  forward.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1200 AM MST Wed Nov 12 2025

WV imagery continues to show the strong upper level ridging
across the western portions of the country with just some high
clouds spilling over it across the CWA on IR. This will continue
to be the case Wednesday and Thursday with the strong
convergence aloft as the main finger of the PFJ remains well
north. As such, expect the warming and dry trend to continue
both of these days ahead of the next system come Friday and into
the weekend. Regardless, expect warmer than average temperatures
(5 to 15 degrees), and some breezy winds once again each
afternoon.

Models indicate a trending down of accumulating snowfall west of
the Divide for the western mountains. HREF shows the best
chance to be over 2 to 4 inches at this point in time (70-80%),
with much less chances for anything over that (20-30%). As such,
confidence has continued to drop for any significant weather to
occur at this time with any hazards less likely for Friday into
Saturday. Mountain passes will still be affected, just not to
the extent as once thought earlier in the week. Timing will
continue to be the key as well with early Friday morning start
times to precipitation to push in from Idaho with much of it
being during the daytime. Anything in the lower valleys west of
the Divide is more likely to be just rainfall at this point in
time as temperatures do not become more seasonable until
overnight Friday and into the weekend behind cold frontal
passage.

The Euro continues to handle the system a bit better longer term
as the GFS has, with now indications of the PFJ cutting the main
Pacific northwest trough off into a closed low near southern
California. The main energy looks to hold off until late Sunday
night and into early next week. Even with that said, the system
overall itself looks to be more progressive. As such, expect
amounts even beyond this to be less than previously forecasted.
The overall pattern continues to be active into much of next
week as well with the main finger of the PFJ continuing to pump
in the Pacific moisture west of the Divide with a series of
trough-ridge couplets to propagate through the upper Rockies.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 354 AM MST Wed Nov 12 2025

VFR conditions will continue through 12Z. Increasing mid level
moisture will bring a broken to overcast cloud deck to the area,
the lowest ceilings would drop to would be 8000 feet above
ground level. Wind will be generally less than 10 knots at most
TAF sites. The exception will be at KCPR where gusts over 20
knots will be possible after 18Z and at KCOD where gusts over 15
knots are possible. Wind should become light at these TAF sites
shortly after sunset.

&&

.RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Lowe
AVIATION...Hattings