Wyoming's Best Climate (Cheyenne, Casper, Gillette: live, garden, airport)

[cowlickkid]

Hi all, new here and was wondering which areas/towns in Wyoming have the most moderate climate? Hot and dry in the summer is fine as I have lived many years in Arizona. I am more concerned with wind, bad driving conditions in the winter and overall coldness during the dark months. Are there any little oasis' or pockets in Wyoming that are less harsh than others?

Thank you for any help you could provide.

[sunsprit]

"wind, bad driving conditions in the winter, and overall coldness during the dark months" describes most of Wyoming.

Even the areas with less wind still have serious winters ....

If you are seeking a moderate climate, I don't think you'll find it in Wyoming. The big factor here is that this area is along the continental divide and higher elevations.

[cowlickkid]

Thanks, perhaps I should explain a little better. I lived in Flagstaff for years so 7,000 foot elevation and tons of snow and cold I have experienced and realize that this is prevalent in Wyoming. What I am asking is are there any pockets in Wyoming that are less harsh than others? I have heard that Riverton might be categorized like this?

[WyoNewk]

The Bighorn Basin seems to be a little warmer than most parts with less wind. Part of that is because it's generally a lower elevation. Worland is often warmer in summer and winter than most towns, and I imagine that weather pattern is similar to its neighbors -- Thermopolis, Basin, Greybull, etc.

I think Lander and Riverton also have a little less wind than many areas. I've never noticed it watching the state weather forecasts, but an old friend of mine who lives in Lander told me that they get a lot of chinook winds there. I'd imagine that Riverton might too.

A good rule of thumb is that temperatures drop by 3.5F for every thousand feet of elevation, and winds are also stronger at higher elevations, so if you want warmer temps and less wind, look for the towns at lower elevation. That generally holds true, although local topography can certainly make a difference too.

[ElkHunter]

I can't speak for anything West of the Big Horns, but I've lived all over the Eastern half of the state. Newcastle, Cheyenne, Wheatland, Hanna, Glendo, Douglas, Casper, Gillette area are harsh.

Currently I live up against the Eastern side of the Big Horn Mountains and can tell you that this area is a nice pocket for weather. Wind is very little. Sure, it will blow in a storm but the norm is calm or winds under 10mph. Winter storms hit the Big Horns and by the time they come back down to dump snow, it's East of Sheridan and moving away. Sheridan will get 2-3 inches and Clairmont will get 10-12. Sheridan will have a 10 mph wind and Clairmont will have 25-30.

So I'd say Buffalo, Story, Big Horn, Sheridan, Ranchester, and Dayton are well protected from the Big Horns and end up being less harsh then things East of here.

[Wyomama2]

Riverton may fit the bill. They don't get as much wind as other areas. Comparing it Rock Springs, it's a good 10 degrees warmer up there than here, much of the year. Which makes the summers stinking hot and humid because of the farming, by Wyoming standards. They don't have too bad of winters I don't think, but travelling from there to anywhere of distance can get rough.

[MRVphotog]

The Belle Fouche River valley in northeastern part of the state is considerbly lower elevation than the rest of the state so the snow and temps are not as bad as other parts. I always called Sheridan the garden spot as it always seemed to green-up before other other parts of the state.

[CptnRn]

This is the best map I have been able to find showing the Annual Mean Total Snowfall. http://www.threatsummary.forestthrea...owfall_173.jpg

Here is a more detailed map showing water equivalent snow precipitation. http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/sco/images/...r04/fig423.gif

Find the areas with the least snow fall and lowest wind levels and they will probably be those with the mildest winters.

http://www.windpowermaps.org/windmaps/images/WYwindpower50_highres.jpg (broken link)

[Michael Blue]

Been looking for the same thing, and I keep running into Cody.
How does this area compare to those you mentioned?
Thanks!

[Happy in Wyoming]

Originally Posted by Michael Blue

Been looking for the same thing, and I keep running into Cody.
How does this area compare to those you mentioned?
Thanks!

Cody doesn't get too much snow, far less than central Illinois, and the area west of Cody going towards Yellowstone gets still less. Near and in Yellowstone there's heavy snow. That's where we get our water.

I'm on the North Fork. It's windy right now with a temperature of 52. The Cody airport is 48, almost certainly with less wind. I was amusedl when people were screaming about Hurricane Sandy that had wind gusts up to 70 mph. We commonly exceed that several times during winter and spring.