Wyoming Climate
Top 5 Cities: Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Gillette, and Rock Springs
This month in numbers
Wyoming experienced its warmest February to April on record, with an average temperature of 3.52°C, an anomaly of +4.3°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. This also marked the warmest February to April for maximum temperatures, reaching 11.04°C, an anomaly of +5.3°C. In contrast, precipitation for the same three-month period was the 4th lowest on record, at just 24.13 mm, an anomaly of -8.1 mm. April 2026 itself was warmer than average, ranking as the 23rd warmest April on record with an average temperature of 4.94°C, an anomaly of +1.1°C.
What changed
The exceptionally warm and dry conditions over the past three months stand in stark contrast to the national picture, where the contiguous United States also saw above-average temperatures but with more varied precipitation. Wyoming's 3-month temperature anomaly of +4.3°C places it as the 11th warmest out of 234 regions globally, with 9 of the top 10 warmest regions also being US states, indicating a striking concentration of warmth across the American West. The state's 12-month rolling anomaly also ranks 9th globally, at +3.12°C. This prolonged warmth has contributed to an unusually active early fire season, driven by historically low snowpack and early snowmelt.
What’s driving change?
The persistent warmth and lack of precipitation are significant factors. Wyoming is currently experiencing widespread drought conditions, with approximately 98% of the state under active drought as of May 12, 2026, including areas of severe, extreme, and even exceptional drought. This exacerbates warming, as the ground cannot cool itself through evaporation. Recent precipitation in May, including a late-season snowstorm that brought up to 22 inches of snow in some higher elevations, provided some much-needed moisture and temporarily reduced fire danger, but it was not enough to break the long-term drought. The state has seen an unusual concentration of wildfires, with three events in May representing 100% of the annual total for the past 12 months, and two drought events also making up 100% of the annual total. More information on active extreme weather events can be found at Extreme Weather tracker.
Looking ahead
The outlook for the coming weeks suggests frequent chances for precipitation, which could help to further reduce the severity of the ongoing drought.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
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Data Sources
Data Sources for Wyoming
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) — see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Wyoming changing?
Wyoming is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The trend rate is shown as °C per decade in the headline panel; you can also see the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Wyoming come from?
Climate data for Wyoming comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Wyoming climate data cover?
The Wyoming climate profile covers Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Gillette and surrounding areas. Wyoming climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Wyoming climate update refreshed?
The Wyoming climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.