GILLETTE, Wyo. — While Gillette itself isn’t under direct fire threat, neighbors to the northeast in South Dakota are facing strong winds and elevated fire weather conditions through Wednesday. A powerful low-pressure system currently over Minnesota is bringing a surge of cold air and gusty northwest winds to the western South Dakota plains.
Gillette residents will also feel the effects of this system, with today’s forecast calling for sunny skies but breezy conditions. Expect a high near 33 degrees but windchill values as low as 9 degrees. Winds will increase throughout the day, gusting at up to 38 mph by the afternoon, per the National Weather Service in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Tonight, temperatures will drop to around 17 degrees with windchill values as low as 3. Breezy conditions will persist with gusts of up to 31 mph. Wednesday will see continued sunshine and a high near 35, but the windchill will remain a factor, dropping to 2 degrees.
Looking ahead, warmer temperatures and calmer conditions are expected to arrive by Thursday as a high-pressure ridge builds over the region. Thursday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with a high near 50 degrees and lighter winds.
The weekend will bring a slight cooldown with a chance of snow Sunday. However, temperatures will remain moderate, with mostly sunny skies expected for Monday.
Detailed Forecast
- Today: Sunny, with a high near 33. Windchill values as low as 9. Breezy, with a northwest wind at 10–15 mph increasing to 23–28 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph.
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 17. Windchill values as low as 3. Breezy, with a west wind at 20–22 mph and gusts as high as 31 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 35. Windchill values as low as 2. West wind at 6–16 mph and gusts as high as 23 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 19. Light and variable wind shifting to the south at around 6 mph in the evening.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. South wind at 5–7 mph.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. South wind at around 6 mph.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Southwest wind at 5–7 mph shifting to the east in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. South wind at 7–10 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53.
- Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.
- Sunday: A slight chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 36.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.
More on the weather is available from the National Weather Service in Rapid City.
NOTE: AI tools assisted in the publication of this report.
