Mills, Wyoming 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

017
FXUS65 KRIW 241930
AFDRIW

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Riverton WY
1230 PM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Increasing snow shower activity after sunset and overnight as
  another cold front pushes through.

- Cold temperatures get reinforced behind the front overnight
  and for Sunday.

- Dry conditions and warming trend for much of next week.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 1230 PM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

Forecast still on track with no significant changes expected.
IR continues to show cold cloud tops pushing in from Canada
around the base of the main upper level trough. A cold front on
track to push through after sunset and overnight with increasing
snow chances for the Bighorn Basin and points east. This will
progress further south after midnight into the Wind River Basin
to Natrona County before exiting by early Sunday afternoon.
Accumulations limited with no impacts expected. Cold air
remains on the cold side through Sunday and Monday morning ahead
of a warmup and dry conditions for the next work week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 108 AM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

The coldest air of what has been a very mild winter has settled in
across the region. Temperatures have begun to rapidly drop as cloud
cover has dissipated over much of the state this morning. Thankfully
many location do not have snow on the ground, as we would likely be
looking at temperatures 10 to 15 degrees colder than what they are
at the moment. That being said, current observations as of 0100 MST
are still on the chilly side with many locations, especially east of
the Divide seeing temperatures already below zero. The coldest spots
are across portions of the Bighorn Basin along with Johnson and
Natrona Counties. Temperatures here have already begun to drop
near -10F with colder temperatures forecast by sunrise.
Temperatures Saturday will still be chilly with highs currently
forecast to be in the upper teens to low 20s. One thing to
monitor will be whether or not any inversions develop and if
they can be broken during the day. This may occur in locations
such as the Bighorn Basin and the Wind River Basin where winds
look to remain rather light through the day Saturday. If
inversions were to develop and remain in place high temperatures
would be cooler than what is currently forecast.

Most of Saturday will be chilly and mainly quiet through at least
the first half of the day. A shortwave does look to near the area by
the late evening Saturday which will gradually usher in the chance
for some snow showers across northern WY. These showers make their
way south as the axis moves south over the state during the morning
hours on Sunday. A shift in flow due to a cold front passage in
association with this shortwave, may lead to a brief period of
favorable upsloping flow over northerly flow favored areas. However,
this window looks to be short lived and as a result, impacts
likely remain very minimal. Probabilistic guidance is only
showing a 30-60% chance for snow accumulations of 0.5 inches or
more over portions of central and northern WY. Higher elevation
mountain ranges may see more in terms of snow accumulations with
forecasted amounts ranging from a trace to two inches. Showers
dissipate through the late morning and early afternoon Sunday
with temperatures remaining cold across nearly all of the state.
Highs are forecast to range from the low teens to low 20s with
the coldest temperatures being over central and eastern WY.

Unfortunately, the short taste of a normal Wyoming winter comes to
an end to start the work week. Ridging is expected to build back in
over the western CONUS leading to a return of the all too familiar
mild and mainly quiet weather conditions. Highs rebound as early as
Monday with temperatures back in the 30s to low 40s. Mild
temperatures persist with highs remaining in the 30s to 40s
through much of the upcoming week. Ridging will keep most
disturbances well out of the area with the one exception being a
potential system by the second half of the week. However,
models are showing this system remain too far south of the area
to bring any noteworthy impacts. At the moment there may be a
small chance for an isolated shower or two across far
western/southern WY Thursday into Friday. Otherwise, like a
never ending nightmare, ridging is likely to persist across the
region with mild and dry conditions prevailing, while active and
cold weather remains well to the east of WY. Long range models
are showing early indications of this mild and dry pattern
persisting into the start of February but there is still time
to see how things truly pan out. If the past two month are any
indications I would put my money on the mild and dry conditions
prevailing.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1046 AM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

West of the Divide...KBPI/KJAC/KPNA/KRKS Terminals.

Light snow and associated reduced flight conditions at KRKS will
improve by 19Z at the latest. Otherwise, expect dry and VFR flight
conditions through the daylight hours today at all west of the
Divide terminals. Winds become breezy this afternoon at KBPI and
KPNA with gusts between 20kts and 25kts. Winds at all other
terminals remain relatively light during this timeframe.

A cold front approaches the area from the north overnight into
Sunday morning, brining clouds, mountain obscurations, snow and
reduced flight conditions. Confidence is highest that KJAC will see
MVFR flight conditions overnight with improvement around sunrise on
Sunday (14Z). There is a 30% chance of snow at KPNA and these
chances are reflected in a PROB30 group. KRKS and KBPI look to be
spared of any snow and reduced flight conditions. Winds become gusty
at the end of the TAF period at KRKS, KBPI, and KPNA which should
help scatter any lower clouds out.

East of the Divide...KCOD/KCPR/KLND/KRIW/KWRL Terminals.

Dry and VFR flight conditions are anticipated this afternoon with
increasing clouds from the north ahead of the next cold front. The
cold front is on track to approach the area from the north after
01Z, bringing mountain obscurations, snow chances (30%), and reduced
flight conditions to KCOD and KWRL first. Confidence in direct
impacts before 06Z at these two terminals are more uncertain and are
reflected in PROB30 groups. KCPR should begin to see snow with the
potential for reduced flight conditions after 10Z. Although snow is
not expected at KRIW and KLND, anticipate MVFR ceilings with and
behind the front. Otherwise, winds remain relatively light at all
east of the Divide terminals.

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...
None.

&&

$$

UPDATE...Lowe
DISCUSSION...Dziewaltowski
AVIATION...Gerhardt