Cody, Wyoming 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

912
FXUS65 KRIW 250011
AFDRIW

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Riverton WY
611 PM MDT Fri Jul 24 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Monsoon moisture continues to draw into western WY this
  evening, with isolated showers and thunderstorms expected
  mainly over west-central WY.

- This pattern continues through the weekend, with very hot
  temperatures in the 90s to near 100 degrees. Shower and
  thunderstorm chances continue for the western mountains each
  afternoon, with Saturday having the highest chances.

- Very warm temperatures with afternoon showers and
  thunderstorms continues through Thursday, with even warmer yet
  drier conditions expected for next Friday and Saturday.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 1230 PM MDT Fri Jul 24 2026

As the upper-level ridge axis slowly slides west to east across
Wyoming today, temperatures are climbing compared to Thursday,
with afternoon high temperatures ranging from the upper 80s to
near 100 in the lower elevations. A weak shortwave trough is
moving from NE Nevada into SE Idaho, across NW WY and into
south-central MT. This feature will bring isolated showers and
thunderstorms to western WY (from SW to NW) this afternoon and
evening, mainly focusing on west-central WY. Some very isolated
showers and thunderstorms may push past the crests of the Wind
Rivers and Absarokas into the eastern slides of the Wind River
and Bighorn River Basins. Late this morning, the Storm
Prediction Center included an marginal risk of severe
thunderstorms from NW NV into SE ID, indicating the threat of
60-70 mph wind gusts. The edge of the marginal is right along
the ID/WY border, so west-central WY (Star Valley, etc.) may see
wind gusts of 50+ mph with storms this afternoon. Elsewhere, the
storms should bring brief heavy rain and gusty outflow winds of
30-50 mph. A few showers should linger until midnight or so
before dissipating.

The ridge axis centers over the eastern WY border on Saturday,
bringing in slightly warmer mid-level air along with increasing
southwest flow. A stronger shortwave trough from the Great Basin
will again move through western WY into southern MT. More
widespread isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are
expected Saturday, even though afternoon high temperatures in
the lower elevations will range from the low 90s to over 100
degrees. West-southwest winds will increase to 10-15 mph in the
afternoon, with gusty outflow winds of 30-50 mph possible as
well. A higher chance of 40-60 mph thunderstorm outflow winds
will be over the northern Bighorn Basin with the thunderstorms
in the late afternoon. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will
linger into the late evening as winds decrease.

Sunday looks to be a repeat of Friday, with only isolated
showers and thunderstorms, expect that the afternoon high
temperatures will be similar to Saturday. As a result, a Heat
Advisory is in effect for the lower elevations east of the
continental divide addressing/highlighting the very warm to hot
temperatures (with elevated humidity leading to abnormally warm
minimum temperatures).

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 300 AM MDT Fri Jul 24 2026

H5 ridging begins to build across the southern Rockies today,
reintroducing heat to the region. Temperatures today will reach
the 90s for the lower elevations, with warmest readings in the
usual lower elevations of the Bighorn Basin and along the I-25
corridor. The ridge axis remains to the east, allowing the
monsoon moisture to continue to draw northward into western WY.
Daytime heating will allow another round of showers and
thunderstorms to build along the western mountain ranges. A lack
of a considerable shortwave sweeping through will keep any
significant organization of storms from occurring, with showers
remaining more isolated in nature. The lighter steering flow
around the ridge will allow showers to move off to the northeast
from mountain ranges, but once they detach from the range, they
will generally decrease and dissipate. With slightly lower
moisture levels and enough steering flow to move any storms,
will not need to continue any Flash Flood Watches for the day
today. Once daytime heating decreases, showers will quickly
dissipate, with mostly clear skies overnight.

Saturday will see the heat ridge strengthen slightly, bringing
highs well into the 90s, with readings above 100 for the Bighorn
Basin and Johnson County. There is a very weak shortwave noted
in models, which may be enough to bring a little more
organization to western showers and thunderstorms, but will they
be able to overcome capping from the increased ridging is the
question. Right now, shower activity looks to be more
widespread, but showers would be smaller in nature, and would
have better motion to keep from sitting in one place.

Longer range models don`t have much change in this pattern for
the upcoming week. High temperatures hover in the 90s each
afternoon, while the chance for monsoon showers continues for
the western mountains. Shower activity would be more dependent
on any passing shortwaves enhancing any lift.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 345 PM MDT Fri Jul 24 2026

VFR conditions will be the normal over the next 24 hours.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms have developed west of the
Continental Divide as expected, and these will last until
shortly after sunset. Only about a 30% chance of receiving
precipitation at any given basin location; however, rain will be
heavy under storm cells, and one can expect lowered visibility
where storms do form. Wind gusts in the vicinity of storms will
likely be in 30 to 40 kt range. Apart from storm vicinities,
afternoon winds will be fairly light, only gusting 15 to 20 kt.

Most storms will not make it East of the Divide, with only
around a 10% chance of LND or RIW being affected by storms.
Winds decrease quickly after sunset, with another chance for
scattered storms tomorrow, this time on both sides of the
Divide.

&&

.RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory from noon Saturday to 9 PM MDT Sunday for
WYZ003>006-010-011-017-018-020.

&&

$$

UPDATE...McDonald/Wittmann
DISCUSSION...Straub
AVIATION...VandenBoogart