Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
Issued by NWS Riverton, WY
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302 FXUS65 KRIW 061919 AFDRIW Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 119 PM MDT Sat Jul 6 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Seasonable and pleasant across the Cowboy State today. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening. - Elevated to critical fire weather conditions will be possible in central and southern WY today. Red Flag Warnings have been issued for parts of Fremont and Natrona Counties. - Cooler temperatures for Sunday before a potent area of high pressure builds over the region for the upcoming week. - Near record breaking heat possible by the second half of the week with highs in the upper 90s. Some areas may even see highs meet or exceed 100 degrees. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 113 PM MDT Sat Jul 6 2024 Seasonable and pleasant weather is expected across the Cowboy State today. Highs today will be around normal for this time of the year, with values near 80 east of the Divide and in the upper 70s west of the Divide. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening. Most of the convection is expected to remain east of the Divide. The one concern for today will be elevated to critical fire weather conditions across parts of the CWA. Due to the favorable winds, and low RH values, Red Flag Warnings have been issued for parts of Natrona and Fremont Counties. A deep trough is currently digging across the central CONUS with the back end moving across the region. Northwesterly flow is expected to develop today, which will aid in the development of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Convection is expected to begin as a cold front moves across the CWA. Dynamics are not that favorable for concerns regarding hazards from any convection that develops. The one thing to monitor will be strong gusty outflows due to inverted-V profiles, with many places seeing 40-50 degree dewpoint depressions. Models show the best chance of thunderstorms being across parts of the northern and eastern CWA with a (20-40%) chance. Overall, precipitation chances range from (20-50%), with higher probabilities in the northern and eastern parts of the CWA. Aside from showers and thunderstorms, the other concern today will be gusty winds and low RH values, which will create elevated to critical fire weather conditions at times. Winds will begin to increase this afternoon as the cold front starts to move across the CWA. Gusts of 25 to 35 mph are likely with much of the state seeing (40-70%) chance of seeing gusts exceeding 30 mph. As mentioned earlier, there is a possibility for isolated stronger gusts in association with any developing showers or thunderstorms. RH values are forecast to remain low, ranging from 10-15% in central and souther pars of the CWA. Due to critical fuels, Red Flag Warnings have been issued for parts of Fremont and Natrona Counties due to the combination of warm temperatures, low RH values, gusty winds, and dry fuels. Sunday will be a nice palate cleanser, as cooler temperatures move in behind the cold front. Temperatures are expected to be 5-10 degrees cooler than today with most of the state seeing highs in the 70s. Winds will be lighter as high pressure from the West Coast begins to build into the region. Showers are still possible Sunday but are going to be more isolated in nature compared to today. The upcoming week will see a return to the hot mid-summer heat, as a potent high pressure builds over the region. The heat will gradually build through the week with the hottest temperatures forecast to develop by the second half of the week. Models currently show a (30- 60%) chance of seeing 95 degrees or higher temperatures in parts of the central and eastern CWA. Models even indicate the possibility of some places reaching or exceeding the century mark, especially in the Bighorn Basin. Taking a peak at some of the climate data, there is a chance that some records may be in jeopardy of being tied or broken. Overall, this high pressure definitely means business with many records already being broken in parts of the Western CONUS. The upcoming week will need to be monitored to see what degree of heat we see in our CWA. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1114 AM MDT Sat Jul 6 2024 Brief reductions to MVFR possible at TAF terminals east of the divide late this afternoon through overnight hours with showers and thunderstorms moving through. The best chances for direct impacts due to rain showers and thunderstorms are at KCOD, KWRL, and KCPR, but showers are possible at KRIW and LND later this evening. In addition, gusty north winds 25 to 35 knots are expected ahead of and along the frontal passage through this evening. Generally light and variable winds expected overnight with clearing skies, following the rain showers and thunderstorms. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 115 PM MDT Sat Jul 6 2024 Warm seasonable temperatures today across central and southern WY this afternoon. Humidity levels will be 10 to 15 percent generally south of a line from Riverton to Casper, with the driest conditions across Sweetwater County. A cold front will move through the state this afternoon and evening. The front will bring chances for showers and thunderstorms along with strong gusty winds for a period of time today. Gusts of 25 to 35 mph will be possible this afternoon and evening. RH values are expected to improve for Sunday with lighter winds forecast as well. Elevated to near critical fire weather conditions will return daily for the upcoming week. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for WYZ280-283. && $$ DISCUSSION...Dziewaltowski AVIATION...Gross FIRE WEATHER...Dziewaltowski