According to Abbreviation Finder, the mainly mountainous Wyoming (WY) is one of the United States of America. The Rocky Mountains largely define the landscape of Wyoming, with peaks of more than 4,000 meters. At 4,207 feet above sea level, the summit of Gannett Peak is Wyoming’s highest point. The northeast and east of the state fall within the flat Great Plains region, where the landscape consists mainly of steppe and grasslands.
Arid Climate Types
The cold steppe climate is the most common climate type in Wyoming. In places where the amount of precipitation increases somewhat, there is a moderate continental climate. This applies, among other things, to some places in the mountain areas, where the annual precipitation sum is sometimes above five hundred millimeters. With only 200 to 300 millimeters of precipitation per year in most places, Wyoming is one of the driest states in America. In some places there is even a desert climate. The Bighorn Basin, for example, has a cold desert climate (type BWk) in the lowest areas, because only 130 to 200 millimeters per year are recorded there. Eastern Wyoming falls just inside Tornado Alley, a large area in the middle of the US that is prone to tornadoes.
Winters in Wyoming
The winter months in Wyoming are cool and pronounced winters, often creating excellent skiing conditions in the mountains. Within Wyoming you will find a number of winter sports areas where you can ski for a number of months. Sometimes you can hit the slopes as early as November, and if you’re lucky, Wyoming can ski or snowboard well into spring. Some parts of Wyoming have a winter that lasts up to 7 months. A good example of this is Teton Village, where you can ski from November until often in May. This ski resort is best known for its excellent off-piste skiing or snowboarding options.
Climate figures
The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).
| maximum temperature | minimum temperature | hours of sunshine per day | days of rainfall per month | |
| January | 3℃ | -10℃ | 6 | 5 |
| February | 5℃ | -8℃ | 7 | 6 |
| March | 7℃ | -6℃ | 8 | 8 |
| April | 13℃ | -1℃ | 9 | 9 |
| May | 19℃ | 4℃ | 9 | 11 |
| June | 24℃ | 9℃ | 10 | 9 |
| July | 28℃ | 12℃ | 10 | 10 |
| August | 27℃ | 11℃ | 10 | 9 |
| September | 22℃ | 6℃ | 9 | 7 |
| October | 16℃ | 1℃ | 8 | 6 |
| November | 8℃ | -5℃ | 6 | 6 |
| December | 4℃ | -9℃ | 6 | 5 |
The climate of Casper
According to Countryaah, Casper is a large city in the central part of the US state of Wyoming. Casper is located in Natrona County, on the North Platte River. The city is located at the base of Casper Mountain in the northern part of the Laramie Mountain range. Casper is a typical example of a boomtown of which there were many early last century in this part of America. After the discovery of the Salt Creek Oil Field, the population here grew rapidly. Nowadays uranium is also found here and there are some coal mines. Near Casper is the Hell’s Half Acre. This area consists of a gorge in which you can admire the most diverse rock formations.
Casper has a cold steppe climate, which is influenced by the Laramie Mountains. Due to the city’s sheltered location, average temperatures are slightly higher than in most parts of Wyoming. The mercury can reach tropical temperatures during the summer months. However, it cools down quickly in the evening. The winter months are cold and there are long periods of night frost. The average annual precipitation is low.
The climate of Cheyenne
Cheyenne is the capital of the US state of Wyoming. Cheyenne is located at an elevation of over 1,800 feet above sea level, in southeastern Wyoming. Cheyenne is part of the Front Range Urban Corridor, an area on the east side of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, where significant urbanization has taken place in recent decades.
Thanks to a total annual precipitation sum of about four hundred millimeters, Cheyenne has a cold steppe climate (type BSk according to the Köppen climate system). Cheyenne has relatively cool and long winters, in which night frost is very common and it can also regularly freeze during the day, especially in the months of December and January. Although there is a reasonable amount of snow in winter (about five feet per year), thanks to common thaws, there is not much of a thick layer of snow. Summers in Cheyenne are pleasantly warm, with temperatures usually ranging between 24 and 31 degrees during the day. In the months of June, July and August in particular, peaks to 35 degrees are possible.
The climate of Cody
Cody is a town in the northern US state of Wyoming. Cody was founded in 1896 by William Frederick Cody with the help of some lenders. That name may not ring a bell with everyone, but his nickname Buffalo Bill probably does. This iconic Wild West figure was a versatile man who got his name from his good ability to kill bison (buffalo in English). The main reason that his name became known far beyond the country’s borders is that he entered show business at one point with his “Buffalo Bill Wild West Show” and thus gained fame.
Today, Cody is a popular tourist destination where you can experience many facets of cowboy and western culture. For example, you can visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. This museum shows different sides of the Wild West. A cool open-air museum in Cody is the Old Trail Town, where more than 25 historic buildings from the end of the nineteenth century are collected.
The climate of Gillette
Gillette is a medium-sized city in northeastern Wyoming. Gillette is located in the central part of Campbell County. The city has declared itself the Energy Capital of the Nation. This is mainly because there are considerable amounts of natural gas, oil and coal in the ground here. Gillette is sandwiched between the Big Horn Mountains to the west and the Black Hills to the east.
Gillette has a cold steppe climate, with slightly higher precipitation rates than most places in Wyoming. Most precipitation falls here during the early summer months. During the summer months, the mercury can reach tropical temperatures. However, towards evening it will quickly become a lot cooler and the nights are generally on the cold side. Long periods of frost and night frost can occur in the winter months. The mercury regularly drops below -20 degrees Celsius.
The climate of Grand Teton National Park
The Grand Teton National Park is an amazing nature reserve in the US state of Wyoming. The landscape offers a beautiful contrast of green meadows, ice-blue lakes and snow-capped peaks. The name of the national park is due to the Grand Teton, one of the mountains of the Teton Mountains. With an elevation of 4,197 meters, this is the highest point within Grand Teton National Park.
Grand Teton National Park has a subarctic climate. In this case, a cool continental climate (Dfc climate) is specifically applicable within the Köppen climate system. Characteristic are the cold winters, in combination with the short summers. Rainfall falls throughout the year in Grand Teton National Park. The amounts of precipitation per month are fairly evenly distributed. In winter, most of the park’s precipitation falls in the form of snow. On the highest mountain peaks it can still snow until late spring. The annual precipitation sum is on average about 800-850 millimeters.
Due to the winter conditions, roads can be impassable during the winters. This certainly applies when a fresh pack of snow has fallen that has not yet been cleaned up. Most tourists visit Grand Teton National Park during the summer, which is considered the best time to visit this beautiful place. In summer, the maximum temperatures in Grand Teton National Park average between 20 and 25 degrees. In the lower parts of the park, the mercury can sometimes reach the tropical value of 30 degrees. That is a big contrast with the months of December, January and February: severe frost at night is normal.
The climate of Jackson
Jackson is a small town in western Wyoming, in the Rocky Mountains. A name that is also used is Jackson Hole. So this is one and the same place in Wyoming. Jackson is located in Teton County in the Jackson Hole Valley, about 1,900 meters above sea level. Just outside the city are Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and the National Elk Refuge. The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is one of the most popular ski areas in this part of the US. In total, this ski area has 14 ski lifts and more than 10 square kilometers of ski area. In the summer months, Jackson is a popular place to stay for those who visit Grand Teton National Parkwant to visit. Furthermore, all kinds of horseback riding trips are organized around Jackson. Ideal for a relaxed introduction to the beautiful landscape around Jackson.
Jackson has a cold steppe climate, which is strongly influenced by the high elevation of the city. Compared to the ski area, the temperatures in Jackson are warm and comfortable. The even higher ski slopes are very cold and temperatures of 30 degrees below freezing are certainly no exception. The summer months in Jackson are pleasantly warm, although the nights can be quite cold. Night frost can occur here all year round.
The climate of Laramie
Laramie is located in the southeastern US state of Wyoming. Laramie is located in Albany County on the Laramie River, in the Laramie Mountains. The city is named after a French trapper who disappeared in this area. The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie. The city is located at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters. This makes the city very popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Skiing, snowmobiling, mountain biking, hunting, fishing and hiking are very popular.
Laramie has a cold steppe climate, which is partly influenced by the high altitude of the city. Due to this high location, the night temperature is on the low side all year round. During the winter months there can be long periods of frost, usually limited to night frost. The average rainfall is very low, the early winter months are generally the wettest.
The Climate of the National Elk Refuge
The National Elk Refuge is a sanctuary for large herds of elk, near the town of Jackson in the US state of Wyoming. The landscape here provides good living conditions for moose. The weather in winter is less inclement than in the nearby mountain areas. As a result, the moose in this location have a greater chance of survival than in the places where they often stay in the summer months. In addition to moose, the National Elk Refuge is home to a variety of other wildlife, including bison, bighorn sheep, coyotes, mule deer, and red foxes. Organized tours, such as horse-drawn carriages, allow visitors to the National Elk Refuge to get to know the animals that live here.
The National Elk Refuge has a cold steppe climate. Within the widely used Köppen-Geiger climate classification, this is the BSk climate. The winters are cool and have a fair amount of snowfall. Since snowfall days often alternate with sunny days, the top layer of snow often melts fairly quickly after it falls. In a normal year, the National Elk Refuge’s landscape is covered with snow from November through March. After that, the warmer weather in spring ensures that temperatures rise quickly, especially during the day. In the summer months (July and August) an average maximum temperature of about 26 degrees Celsius is eventually reached. At night, the jet can cool down quite a bit.
The climate of Rock Springs
Rock Springs is a small city in the southern US state of Wyoming. Rock Springs is located in Sweetwater County and lives mainly from the mining industry and the cattle trade. Just outside the town are Killpecker Sand Dunes. This is one of the largest silted areas in the United States. Dune bashing is a favorite activity here.
Rock Springs has a cold steppe climate, with a long frost period. The little precipitation that falls here will mainly come down as snow during the winter period. In the summer, temperatures are just below 30 degrees Celsius. This ensures pleasantly warm summer days, but towards the evening the weather will cool down quickly. The nights are cold even in summer.
The climate of Sheridan
Sheridan is a small town in northern Wyoming, not far from the Montana border. The city is located in the county of the same name. Just outside the city are the Big Horn Mountains. As in many cities in this part of the US, farms and coal mines are the main sources of income here.
Sheridan has a cold steppe climate, with little rainfall all year round. The summer months are pleasantly warm, although it quickly cools down towards the evening. Winters are very cold and temperatures 20 degrees below freezing are certainly no exception. Long periods of frost and night frost can occur.
The climate of Teton Village
Teton Village is a ski resort just south of Grand Teton National Park. The ski area is officially called the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The village is located at an altitude of 1924 meters above sea level and the ski slopes go up to an altitude of 3185 meters. In total, the ski area covers an area of approximately 10 square kilometers, with a total of 116 kilometers of slopes. Of these, 10% is suitable for novice skiers, 40% for more experienced skiers and 50% for advanced skiers who are not afraid of a challenge. Off the slopes there is an area of about twelve square kilometers where you can ski and snowboard off-piste. In the summer months, the ski lifts are used by hikers who let themselves be brought up to make beautiful walks from there. Teton Village is also used as a base for horseback riding through the beautiful surroundings.
Teton Village has a cold steppe climate, which tends towards a tundra climate. Based on the climate statistics, it can be established that the BSk climate applies to the village itself. Once you are at higher altitudes (> 2700-2800 meters), this changes in the ET climate. Characteristic are the fairly long and fairly cool winters. Especially during the night, the mercury in Teton Village can drop considerably. In the middle of winter, minimum temperatures of -10 to -20 degrees are normal. During the day, the mercury often remains below freezing. Higher up on the slopes, temperatures almost never rise above zero from early December to late February. On an annual basis, Teton Village has about 40 days with some snowfall. In the village itself about two meters of snow falls per year.
After a fairly short spring, a pleasantly warm summer follows, with relatively little precipitation. The average maximum temperature during the summer months is between 23 and 28 degrees. During warmer days, the temperature can rise to tropical values of 30 degrees or higher. The special thing about the climate of Teton Village is that there is also a chance of night frost in the middle of summer. The erratic nature of the weather in Teton Village is evident all year round. In May it can be 25 degrees during the day, while at night it can still be moderate frost.
