GILLETTE, Wyo. — Gillette should brace for a significant shift in weather this weekend, with a strong cold front bringing gusty winds, plummeting temperatures and the potential for accumulating snow.
Today will see increasing clouds with a high near 40, but windchill values could make it feel as low as 18. Southwest winds will blow at 8–18 mph, with gusts reaching 25 mph. Tonight, clouds will linger before skies gradually become partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Breezy conditions will continue, with southwest winds at 17–21 mph and gusts of up to 29 mph.
Saturday offers a brief respite with mostly sunny skies and a high near 42. However, the pleasant conditions will be accompanied by elevated fire weather conditions due to locally gusty winds and low relative humidity. A chance of rain and snow arrives Saturday night before 10 p.m., followed by a chance of snow. The low will drop to around 20, and winds will shift from the southwest to the north, with gusts of up to 22 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
The real change comes Sunday, with a 30% chance of snow, mainly after 11 a.m., and a steady temperature around 25. North winds will shift to the east in the afternoon, with gusts of up to 16 mph. Snow is likely Sunday night, with a low around 4 and a 60% chance of precipitation. New snow accumulation of 1–2 inches is possible.
The colder temperatures persist into next week. Monday has a 40% chance of snow and a high near 13. Monday night brings another chance of snow, mainly before 11 p.m., with a low around 4. Tuesday and Tuesday night offer a slight chance of snow with a high near 15 and a low near 2, respectively. Wednesday and Wednesday night also have a chance of snow, with a high near 16 and a low around minus 4. Thursday offers a slight chance of snow and a high near 18.
The National Weather Service in Rapid City, South Dakota’s forecast discussion indicates a strong cold front arriving early Sunday, bringing gusty winds and plummeting temperatures. Much colder air will remain across the area for most of next week. Widespread accumulating snow is likely Sunday night into Monday, with a 40%–70% probability of accumulations ranging from 2 to 5 inches. However, confidence in the exact location of the greatest snowfall accumulation is currently low to moderate.
Detailed Forecast
- Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 40. Windchill values as low as 18. Southwest wind at 8–18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Tonight: Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Breezy, with a southwest wind at 17–21 mph and gusts as high as 29 mph.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Southwest wind at 10–15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
- Saturday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 10 p.m., then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Southwest wind at 11–16 mph shifting to the north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Sunday: A 30% chance of snow, mainly after 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 25. North wind at 8–11 mph shifting to the east in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 16 mph.
- Sunday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 4. North wind at 9–11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1–2 inches possible.
- Monday: A 40% chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 13. North wind at 8–10 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph.
- Monday Night: A chance of snow, mainly before 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. Southeast wind around 9 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.
- Tuesday: A slight chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 15.
- Tuesday Night: A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 2.
- Wednesday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 16.
- Wednesday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around minus 4.
- Thursday: A slight chance of snow. Mostly sunny, with a high near 18.
More on the weather is available from the National Weather Service in Rapid City.
NOTE: AI tools assisted in the publication of this report.