GILLETTE, Wyo. — Gillette can expect a stretch of sunny and mild weather for the rest of the week, with temperatures climbing into the upper 30s each day.
However, the National Weather Service in Rapid City, South Dakota, warns of gusty winds and elevated fire weather conditions, especially Wednesday and Friday.
“Westerly downslope flow will promote mild temperatures through the week,” the NWS in Rapid City reports. “Main concern through the remainder of the week will be elevated fire weather conditions with locally gusty winds.”
The wind will be a factor throughout the week, with gusts as high as 18 mph today and even stronger gusts expected Friday. While the days will be mild, mornings will be chilly with windchill values dipping as low as 16 degrees.
This pleasant weather pattern will shift dramatically by the weekend. A cold front is expected to move in late Saturday, bringing a chance of rain and snow Saturday night that will transition to snow Sunday.
The pattern flips early next week with a trough digging across the eastern Pacific into western Canada and Pacific Northwest. “This will allow a shallow arctic airmass to slip southward into the Northern Plains setting the stage for increasing chances of snow,” the NWS in Rapid City said.
Sunday and Monday will see a significant drop in temperatures, with highs only reaching the upper 20s Sunday and plunging to the teens by Monday. Snow is likely throughout the period, potentially impacting travel and outdoor activities.
Detailed Forecast
- Today: Sunny, with a high near 37. Windchill values as low as 16. West wind at 7–10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
- Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 20. West wind at 6–9 mph shifting to the southwest after midnight.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 39. Windchill values as low as 16. South wind at 9–11 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 20. Southwest wind at 6–8 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 36. West wind at around 7 mph.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 19. Southwest wind at 7–10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 39. Southwest wind at 11–14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Southwest wind at around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41.
- Saturday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 10 p.m., then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17.
- Sunday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28.
- Sunday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7.
- Monday: A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 18.
More on the weather is available from the NWS in Rapid City.
NOTE: AI tools assisted in the publication of this report.