Rock Springs, Wyoming 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

989
FXUS65 KRIW 061800
AFDRIW

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Riverton WY
1200 PM MDT Tue Oct 6 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Another day of very warm temperatures across western Wyoming,
  with highs 10 to 15 degrees above average. Multiple records
  highs may be broken again today and even through Thursday.

- Windy conditions return Friday and into the weekend, bringing
  elevated to near critical fire weather concerns.

- The next weather system still timed to arrive later this
  weekend, with likely rain showers and an increasing
  probability of snow for higher elevations above 12,000 feet.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 1200 PM MDT Tue Oct 6 2026

Short term forecast still on track for the next couple of days
with above average temperatures and relatively light winds
through Thursday. IR depicts mainly clear skies and a nice
afternoon ahead through that point. Increasing fire weather
concerns come Friday with the continued dry conditions but
stronger winds as well. The weekend system has trended a bit
earlier for western mountains for Saturday evening with mountain
snow above 12kft and valley rain below. Accumulations at this
point are not in consensus with models, but there is higher
confidence if most of the area receiving at least a bit or
precipitation at some point from late Saturday and into early
next week. This is where models divulge from one another in how
quick this system pushes east. Some have it through Tuesday and
other Wednesday, but beyond that, ridging builds back in with
the trend of dryer and warmer than average conditions to persist
there after.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 208 AM MDT Tue Oct 6 2026

Consistent and strong ridging continues to dominate western and
central Wyoming through the rest of the upcoming week. This will
keep the very warm and dry conditions going, with highs 10 to 15
degrees above normal through Friday. Those leaves that are
already changing colors are going to get confused for a while.
There is a weak and dissipating midlevel trough moving out of
the Great Basin into western Colorado, which may push a few
virga showers into far southern WY this afternoon, but with
surface dewpoint temps in the 20s, any precip that tries to fall
will quickly evaporate well before reaching the ground.

Hints of a larger change start to show on Friday, as a larger
trough starts to drop southward along the Pacific Coast. This
will start to tighten up the surface gradient in the region,
bringing a more typical windy Wyoming day. This along with the
still very dry conditions will lead to near critical fire
weather concerns during the afternoon. This pattern continues
into the day Saturday as well. Longer term models still can`t
quite agree on the timing of the arrival of the trough this
weekend, but are becoming more consistent in bringing it through
nonetheless. Confidence in increasing in a considerable weather
change with this system, bringing much colder temperatures,
ample rainfall at lower levels, and the first decent amount of
snowfall for the main mountain ranges across NW WY.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1111 AM MDT Tue Oct 6 2026

There is high confidence in VFR flight conditions through 18Z
Wednesday. The breeziest terminals are forecast to be KCPR, KPNA,
and KBPI on Tuesday afternoon, with KPNA being the most likely
terminal to see gusts up to 20kts. Winds at all other terminals
remain light. Clouds are forecast to be in the mid to high levels
the entire TAF period.

Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for
the latest information on smoke, icing, and turbulence
forecasts.

&&

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

&&

$$

UPDATE...Lowe
DISCUSSION...Straub
AVIATION...Gerhardt