Chadron, Nebraska 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

471
FXUS65 KCYS 231745
AFDCYS

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Cheyenne WY
1145 AM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Red Flag Warnings are in effect for Thursday primarily across
  far southeastern Wyoming and the southern Nebraska Panhandle
  due to elevated fire concerns.

- A widespread high wind event is ongoing and will continue
  through this evening across most of southeast Wyoming.
  Therefore, High Wind Warnings remain in effect.

- A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for the I-80 corridor
  from Cheyenne to Sidney on Friday afternoon due to low
  humidity and breezy conditions.

- Relatively cool and wet weather is expected for the weekend
  and early next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 310 AM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026

Clearing skies ongoing this morning east of the Laramie Range as
downsloping winds increase. Gusty conditions are ongoing at most
locations, with the I-80 Summit currently seeing 60+ mph gusts with
the highest, recent gust of 70 mph near Vedauwoo. Strong winds are
anticipated to peak early this morning, especially along the I-80
Summit before slowly tapering off through the evening hours.
Temperatures right now are fairly steady, in the 30s and 40s in
Wyoming and 50s across western Nebraska. Nebraska will likely see
some cooler temperatures in the next few hours as the cloud deck
overhead migrates off to the east.

The upper-level trough continues to push into the region today
through at least Friday, as the trough weakens and redevelops off to
the west through the morning hours today. Further down at 700mb, the
700mb jet is expected to set up along the Laramie Range within the
next few hours, leading to increasing height gradients and a
strengthening of the 700mb jet. The jet is expected to reach its
peak strength by 15Z this morning, maxing out around 75kts, directly
across southern portions of the Laramie Range. Surface pressure
gradients remain very high this morning, leading to strong, 4 to 5
mb gradient across the southern Laramie Range, with maxed downward
omega values. As a result, the peak winds of this high wind event
are expected to occur near the I-80 Summit between about now and
about noon today, potentially between 9 AM and Noon. High Wind
Warnings remain in effect through 6 PM this evening, with winds
really starting to decrease beginning around 3 PM this afternoon.
Temperatures today will be cooler than yesterday, thanks to a cold
front that pushed through the region. Highs in the 50s and 60s are
expected east of the Laramie range and 50s west. Isolated to
scattered precipitation chances are possible across portions of the
region as a secondary cold front move through this morning into the
early afternoon hours. The Sierra Madre and Snowy Ranges will likely
see the most precipitation, with up to 6 inches of snow possible
throughout the day today and into the overnight hours. Lighter
precipitation accumulations are expected for the lower elevations,
mostly north of about Highway 26. Dry conditions are expected east
of the Laramie Range, with afternoon humidity values likely dropping
into the 15 to 25% range, especially across southern portions of the
Panhandle. With winds gusting upwards of 50 mph, the Red Flag
Warning remains in effect through this evening.

Another cooler, breezy day is expected on Friday behind the
secondary cold front that pushed through Thursday, and as the upper-
level low finally starts to move overhead. Breezy conditions on
Friday result from a 700mb shortwave swinging through the region and
briefly increase height gradients. High winds are not anticipated on
Friday, but gusts to about 40 mph will be possible, especially in
the wind prone area. Temperatures east of the Laramie Range will
once again be in the 50s and 60s, with 40s possible across northern
portions of the region. Another, weaker, cold front is anticipated
to push through the area, increasing precipitation chance east of
the Laramie Range, though only to about 30% chances. RAP soundings
suggest a strong, Inverted-V signature with very dry surface
conditions, so precipitation will likely struggle to reach the
ground, though it cannot be ruled out with the stronger forcing from
the front. Any precipitation that falls will start as rain and
likely slowly transition over to snow into the later evening hours
as temperatures cool off. With warmer afternoon temperatures and
little moisture ahead of the front, afternoon humidity values along
I-80 from Cheyenne to Sidney will drop into the 15 to 20% range.
With breezy conditions expected, a Fire Weather Watch has been
issued for this area. Overnight recoveries will be very good, likely
about 80%, so a long duration Fire Weather Watch is not anticipated.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 310 AM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026

This upper level troughing pattern should hold for the next few
days. This will keep us cloudy and close to seasonable, with some
periods of rain and snow. Chances of precipitation begin in the
mountains Saturday afternoon where some up slope lift increases the
chances of measurable precipitation. Much of the rest of the areas
stays just cloudy though a few showers may occur. The chances of
precipitation does eventually start to increase going into the
evening and overnight hours elsewhere. This is in response to an
upper level disturbance moving in from the Southern
California/Nevada region. Ensembles are highlighting at least 50
percent probabilities of 0.1" or more of precipitation in the
mountains, that becomes more widespread in the afternoon. An
enhancement of rainfall may also occur over the Nebraska Panhandle
regions of our CWA as the system moves through. This does depend on
where a stationary front to our south ends up. A more northerly
placement would result in more rainfall, but models are still highly
spread on this. Monday appears to be the start of a drying period as
a ridge axis tries to nose its way into our area. Outside the
Mountain ranges, PoPs drop into the 40s. Tuesday this feature starts
to have an increased influence in our weather with temperatures
reaching into the 60s and relative humidities decreasing. The good
news is that instead of weeks long spells of ridging, there is good
agreement in guidance that continued troughing will prevail. Expect
cool and rainy periods starting Wednesday through Thursday as
another disturbance moves in. Throughout the forecast period there
is some support of thunderstorms, particularly for Sunday. Therefore
a few rumbles of thunder would not be surprising. At this time the
probability of severe storms appears low.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1137 AM MDT Thu Apr 23 2026

A series of weather disturbances will move across the forecast
area through Friday, with strong pressure gradients near the
surface producing windy conditions.

Wyoming TAFS...Moderate confidence in scattered to broken clouds
from 7000 to 15000 feet, with ceilings near 4500 feet at Rawlins
until 21Z. Pressure gradients suggest winds gusting to 50 knots
until 00Z, then winds gusting to 38 knots.

Nebraska TAFS...Moderate confidence in scattered to broken
clouds from 5000 to 15000 feet, with scattered showers at
Chadron from 02Z to 06Z, reducing visibilities to 4 miles and
ceilings to 2500 feet, and ceilings near 1500 feet at Chadron
from 06Z to 15Z, with snow and rain showers reducing
visibilities to 4 miles. Pressure gradients suggest winds
gusting to 41 knots until 02Z.

&&

.CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WY...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for WYZ430-431-
     433.
     Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through Friday
     evening for WYZ430-431.
     High Wind Warning until 3 PM MDT this afternoon for WYZ101-104-
     109-111-113.
     High Wind Warning until 6 PM MDT this evening for WYZ106>108-
     110-115>119.
NE...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for NEZ435>437.
     Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through Friday
     evening for NEZ437.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...AM
LONG TERM...RV
AVIATION...RUBIN