The cold front is causing temperatures to drop at Casper and causing the watch to freeze tonight

Overview:

A cold front will bring significantly cooler temperatures and increased fire weather conditions to the region today, followed by a return to warmer and drier conditions with continued fire concerns for the remainder of the week and a possible cooling with gusty winds early next week.

CASPER, Wyo. – A cold front moving through the region today will bring significantly cooler temperatures, with highs averaging 15-35 degrees below yesterday's record warm temperatures. A freeze is possible tonight, particularly in the lower elevations of the Bighorn Basin and Wind River Basin, as well as the lower elevations of Natrona County where freeze warnings have been issued.

According to National Weather Service records, Casper was among the cities that hit a record high of 91 degrees on Sept. 29. (Graphic from National Weather Service)

Despite the cooler temperatures, elevated fire weather conditions continue to prevail due to gusty northwest winds and low humidity. According to the National Weather Service in Riverton, red flag warnings remain in effect for southern areas, while fire danger advisories have been issued for many other locations.

Dry weather and above-average temperatures return Tuesday through the weekend, with highs reaching the 80s. This will likely lead to ongoing fire weather concerns, particularly around Rock Springs and Casper, meteorologists wrote in the forecast discussion.

Cooler weather is expected today as a strong cold front moves through the region. (Graphic from National Weather Service)

Another cold front is expected to move through next week, bringing gusty winds and possibly more fire danger, but little to no precipitation. Temperatures will cool down briefly before warming up again in the middle of the week. The general pattern of above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation is expected to continue into early October.

Detailed forecast

Today: Sunny, with a high near 64. North northeast wind 9-13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Patchy frost after 4am. Otherwise mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northeast wind 5-11 mph becoming south after midnight.
Tuesday: Patchy frost before 9am. Otherwise sunny, with a high near 76. Windy, with a light south-southwest wind becoming west-southwest at 11-16 mph in the morning. Wind gusts can reach up to 25 miles per hour.
Tuesday evening: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Southwest wind 9-14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Windy, with a southwest wind 14-17 mph becoming west-northwest in the afternoon. Wind gusts can reach up to 29 miles per hour.
Wednesday evening: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. North northwest wind 6-11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind around 6 mph.
Thursday evening: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Friday evening: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Windy.
Saturday evening: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 74.

For more weather information, contact the National Weather Service in Riverton.