CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming’s capital city saw a whirlwind of weather extremes over 2024, from subzero winter mornings to sweltering summer afternoons and nearly record-breaking dryness in the fall. According to the National Weather Service in Cheyenne, significant high-wind events prompted repeated advisories and sporadic closures on Interstate 80, particularly affecting light and high-profile vehicles.
Meanwhile, locally heavy thunderstorms in late spring and summer brought relief to some farmers but also caused short-lived flooding concerns along highways.
WINTER (January–February)
January opened with a stretch of unusually cold temperatures. Lows often dipped below zero degrees, exceeding historical averages for subzero days. Howling winds along I-80 between Rawlins and Laramie led to a partial closure to protect vulnerable vehicles from blowover risks.
Although major snowfall events were limited, dustings of snow repeatedly turned into dense, freezing fog, resulting in several morning commutes fraught with low visibility.
Following this frigid start, February showed slight improvement in terms of temperatures, but wind persisted as the month’s defining feature. Gusts were routinely high enough to justify cautionary statements from the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
Although there were fewer closures than in January, multiple days saw rapid changes from relative calm to near-blizzard conditions whenever light snow combined with the ever-present wind. Data from the NWS in Cheyenne indicated that precipitation ended up just above normal for the month, thanks to a handful of brief but potent winter storms that sprinkled measurable snow across the region.
SPRING (March–May)
By March, Cheyenne entered a classic high-plains transitional season. Daytime temperatures occasionally surged into the 40s and 50s, only to plummet after sunset with cold air filtering down from the north. Several mornings brought modest snow in the South Laramie Range, often shifting into freezing fog by dawn.
In more rural parts of the county, WYDOT reported slick conditions on highways such as U.S. 85, leading to cautious or limited travel. Despite these swings, local ranchers saw the first inklings of milder weather after a challenging winter.
The tug-of-war between winter and spring continued into April, as is common for Wyoming. Sporadic sunny stretches produced mild afternoons, but windy spells remained frequent and frosty mornings persisted, especially at higher elevations west of Cheyenne.
Where early-spring moisture did appear, it often took the form of wet snow or mixed precipitation. These events typically melted quickly under daytime sunshine.
Toward the month’s end, the weather gradually shifted toward a steadier warming trend, signaling that the region’s infamous wind would soon give way to more comfortable conditions.
May turned out drier than average overall, though thunderstorms developed sporadically. These storms, while brief, could drop heavy rain in a short time.
The NWS in Cheyenne recorded a few bursts that produced localized ponding water along heavily traveled corridors, though Cap City News noted that no major highway closures were attributed to rainfall alone. May’s biggest travel-related concerns continued to revolve around gusty conditions rather than precipitation.
SUMMER (June–August)
The summer months of June and July brought their share of warmth, with daytime highs frequently climbing into the 80s and low 90s. Thunderstorms were not uncommon, delivering bouts of rain, gusty winds and occasional small hail.
June’s precipitation totals came close to historical averages, while July’s storms offered just enough moisture to keep the area from drying out too severely. Outdoor events, from rodeos to farmers markets, largely proceeded without major interruptions.
August proved the biggest rainmaker of the year for much of Laramie County. According to the NWS in Cheyenne’s observations, the capital city recorded roughly 3.24 inches, more than double the month’s long-term average of 1.52 inches. Frequent afternoon thunderstorms cooled off the late-summer heat, although they sometimes caused minor street flooding.
FALL (September–November)
By September, an entirely different story emerged: A stubborn ridge of high pressure and a weather pattern known as a “Rex Block” combined to keep precipitation minimal. Cheyenne Regional Airport documented a notable dry spell from mid-September to mid-October, cited by meteorologists as the second longest consecutive stretch without measurable rainfall on record.
Daytime highs often soared into unseasonably warm territory. Road closures during this period were due more to wind or construction than any form of precipitation, underscoring how thoroughly conditions had dried out.
The return of cooler weather in October brought modest relief from dryness. Some scattered rain and snow showers dotted the latter half of the month, though totals remained below average for many days.
Where precipitation did occur, it was accompanied by strong winds in exposed mountain foothills, occasionally prompting travelers to rethink journeys along routes like WYO 210 (Happy Jack Road). Overall, the combination of warm afternoons and brisk nights signaled a gradual shift into late fall.
In November, periodic light snow flurries and cooler temperatures placed Cheyenne firmly on the path back into winter. Gusty winds kicked up again, though major closures on I-80 and I-25 were less frequent than in January. Local reports highlighted that drivers were taking more proactive steps to handle dicey conditions, with black ice posing a bigger threat than heavy accumulations of snow.
EARLY WINTER (December)
Rounding out the year, December featured an abundance of subfreezing nights — even subzero in certain parts of Laramie County — yet surprisingly minimal snowfall. More common were episodes of freezing fog, particularly in the morning hours, creating slick streets and limited visibility. Despite these hazards, holiday travel progressed with relatively few full closures.
Throughout 2024, Cheyenne experienced an array of weather extremes, showcasing the region’s famed volatility. From the blowover threats along I-80 in January to the sweltering days of summer and the near-record dry spell in fall, conditions tested both local infrastructure and residents’ adaptability.
In total, Cheyenne’s average daily observed temperature for 2024 reached 49.2 degrees, surpassing the 46.9-degree yearly average defined by the 1991–2020 climate normals. Meanwhile, the city’s annual precipitation amounted to 10.33 inches, falling notably short of the 15.41-inch average typically expected in a given year.
The second-longest dry streak on record and overall warmer temperatures both underscore the city’s changing climate. Wind data further illustrate Cheyenne’s dynamic weather, with a recorded average wind speed of 11.2 mph, with the highest wind speed of 51 mph on Jan. 9 and an 82 mph gust on April 6. Sky cover averaged 0.24, with 263 days classified as fair, 82 days partly cloudy and 21 days cloudy.
