GILLETTE, Wyo. — Northeast Wyoming can anticipate a stretch of unseasonably warm and dry weather through the end of the week, with temperatures soon flirting with 90 degrees.
The clear skies and ample sunshine are thanks to an upper ridge positioned over the region. However, southerly winds will develop Wednesday, raising concerns about elevated fire weather conditions, according to the National Weather Service in Rapid City, South Dakota. Near-critical fire weather conditions are possible on Wednesday and Thursday due to the combination of high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds.
Looking to the weekend, a series of troughs moving across the Canadian prairie provinces will cause the upper ridge to shift south, potentially leading to a slight cooldown. However, temperatures should remain above average.
Early next week, the forecast becomes more uncertain. Models are showing a variety of potential scenarios, with the outcome largely dependent on the location of an anticipated closed low over the Midwest. Some forecast models suggest that temperatures could drop low enough to bring light snow to the higher elevations of northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota early next week, meteorologists said in the forecast discussion.
Detailed Forecast
- Today: Sunny, with a high near 75. West wind at 7–14 mph shifting to the north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Light and variable wind shifting to the south at 8–13 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Breezy, with a south wind at 14–21 mph and gusts as high as 31 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. South wind at 14–17 mph and gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind at 10–17 mph shifting to the north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. North wind at 12–17 mph shifting to the southeast at 6–11 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85. South wind at 7–14 mph and gusts as high as 22 mph.
- Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 50. Southeast wind at 8–10 mph and gusts as high as 18 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
- Monday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
More on the weather is available from the National Weather Service in Rapid City.
