Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
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200 FXUS65 KRIW 171956 AFDRIW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 1256 PM MST Mon Nov 17 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Weather system exits the area today, with rain and mountain snow chances decreasing through the afternoon. - Temperatures are much cooler and near normal today, but will be slightly warmer Tuesday and Wednesday. - The weather pattern is trending toward cool and mostly dry for the rest of this week into this weekend as weather systems miss Wyoming to the south. - With the weather systems sliding south temperatures will remain cool, but close to normal for mid-November. && .UPDATE... Issued at 1254 PM MST Mon Nov 17 2025 The rain and mountain snow is trying to hang on this afternoon, but ultimately will taper off by this evening as the upper-low slides east. As expected temperatures are cool, but close to normal for this time of year. Wind will remain breezy through the afternoon across southern Wyoming, with gusts of 25 to 35 mph. It should be a bit warmer Tuesday and Wednesday thanks to high pressure, but there will be enough cloud cover to prevent highs from reaching values of the past week. This means highs will be in the 50s east of the Continental Divide and 40s west of the Continental Divide. There remains much uncertainty in regards to the weather pattern and system late this week into this weekend. There is a better chance (70%) for minimal impacts than moderate to high impacts (30%). && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 207 AM MST Mon Nov 17 2025 Portions of the Cowboy State are finally seeing some more autumn-like weather after a prolonged period of mild and dry conditions. An upper level low has made its way north after bringing heavy rain/snow to parts of the southwestern CONUS. Showers are currently gradually spreading across the state this morning. Many locations are seeing rain due to the overall warm nature of this system. However, colder air is trying to funnel its way into the region. 700 mb temperatures show this colder air over parts of western and southern WY this morning. Rain has already begun to transition over to snow for locations such as Afton and Pinedale. This colder air is expected to continue to spread east and north through the morning. However these "colder" temperatures are still rather tame with values only ranging from -4 to 0C. So while these temperatures are colder than what we have seen over the past week or so, its still on the warmer side. As a result many areas will likely see rain as the predominate form of precipitation with only the higher elevations of western and southern WY seeing a transition to snow during the day Monday. Precipitation is expected to fall periodically throughout much of the day today as the low makes its way over then to the east of the state. Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect across the higher elevations of western WY such as the Tetons, Gros Ventre, Salt River, Wyoming, and western Wind River Ranges. Favorable flow will support enhanced orographics across these locations leading to snowfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches for elevations around or above 9000 feet. Lesser amounts of a trace to a few inches can be expected for the lower elevations. Western Basins may see a wet coating of snow but overall impacts will be minimal. The system makes its way out of the region this afternoon with a few lingering showers possible during the afternoon and evening as a result of wrap around moisture. A lull in the activity is expected through the middle of the week as the region sits in the middle of multiple disturbances. Weak ridging over the region will keep things mainly quiet but a few showers cannot be ruled out at times. Temperatures for much of the week look to be more seasonable but still slightly above normal ranging in the mid 40s to low 50s. Overnight temperatures look to be more seasonable as well with lows in the upper teens to low twenties west of the Divide and 20s east of the Divide. The jet stream looks to have finally woken up and it is looking ever so more likely that more November-like weather returns to the state for the second half of the month. The aforementioned jet stream is looking to ramp up sending one disturbance after another. Currently, a cutoff low is expected to develop and fill in over the southwestern CONUS for the next few days. Due to a lack of forcing this low looks to stagnate over that region until something can help push it east. That push looks to arrive by the second half of the week in the form of another disturbance digging south across the western CONUS. The impacts that may be seen across the state as a result of these disturbances remains highly uncertain at this time. Models vary greatly in regards to the track and exactly what the interaction between these two lows will look like. Overall, there is an increased likelihood for cooler and more unsettled weather by the second half of the week into the weekend but at this time the exact details remain foggy. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1117 AM MST Mon Nov 17 2025 IFR to MVFR conditions are noted at several terminals late this morning as a midlevel low moves east into the Great Plains. Given that we are now on the backside of this system, we do expect some improvement through the afternoon. Still, low ceilings will persist through most of the overnight hours before lifting by late Tuesday morning. There is some indication that there may be some fog at KJAC, KBPI, and KPNA, but confidence is too low to add to TAFs for now. Gusty winds will be seen this afternoon at KCPR and KRKS, decreasing after sunset. Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on icing and turbulence forecasts. && $$ UPDATE...Rowe DISCUSSION...Dziewaltowski AVIATION...Myers