Rawlins, WY Weather

Key Messages

- Dry conditions and above average temperatures are expected to continue through at least mid-week.

- The next chance for precipitation and temperatures closer to seasonal averages will be late week, Thursday night, into next weekend.

Short Term

Issued at 346 AM MDT Tue Oct 20 2026

Today is going to be a pretty mild day but a little warmer than yesterday. High temperatures will be in the 60's for Albany, Carbon, and western portions of Laramie county. Areas east of I-25 minus majority of Laramie county will have high temperatures in the low to mid 70's. This difference is caused by potential brief rain showers inherited from Colorado between 3-6pm. While the hi-res models show some weak showers producing the environment is kind of lack luster. The most unstable CAPE (MUCAPE) hits only about 200 joules while the models soundings depict a decent dry layer near the surface. Mid- level water vapor isn't entirely supporting the idea of anything significant occurring as it has some moisture advecting in but its not really going to be enough to override the dry air surrounding it. So, the most we may end up actually getting is a cloudy skies with slightly breezier winds underneath. If moisture does end up making it to the ground it doesn't seem evident to expect anything more than a brief sprinkle that barely wets the cement. Pops under 15 percent were kept for this afternoon so the chance for any precip doesn't show up in our weather grids. But the cloudiness will likely drop the temperature down a few degrees compared to our clear sunny areas, so thats why Albany, Carbon, and majority of Laramie county are expected to be in the 60's today. Overnight temperatures tonight look to be in the 30's and 40's so something rather seasonable for our forecast area. Wednesday will also be a pretty mild day with light winds in the 60's and 70's. Light winds are forecasted once again for the area as we will kind of be in the middle of two flows located in the Pacific northwest and the desert southwest of the United States. Things look to ramp up Wednesday evening as a weak shortwave starts to inch closer to the Intermountain West to give us increasing cloud cover at the very least. The positive about that is that clouds act as a little bit of a blanket at night and help us keep the warmth closer to the ground. The overnight temps for wednesday night will be in the 40's and 50's for the most part.

Long Term

Issued at 131 PM MDT Mon Oct 19 2026

Thursday...Moist south southwest flow aloft develops in advance of the upper low over Nevada, with deeper moisture and a weak shortwave trough aloft moving across our western counties, producing scattered showers and a few thunderstorms south of a line from Rawlins, to Wheatland to Cheyenne.

Friday...As the main trough aloft moves across western Wyoming, a cold front will lie north to south across our counties, helping to produce scattered showers mainly west of I-25 in the afternoon, and spreading eastward in the evening.

Saturday...The primary trough aloft moves overhead early in the day, and orographic lift will likely produce scattered showers in the afternoon from Douglas to Laramie, and in the evening south of a Rawlins to Scottsbluff line.

Sunday/Monday...Drier conditions return under northwest flow aloft and as the low and mid levels dry out somewhat. 700 mb temperatures near 3 Celsius will yield high temperatures in the mid 50s to lower 60s.

Aviation

Issued at 533 AM MDT Tue Oct 20 2026

VFR Conditions will remain through the TAF period. Medium to high based clouds are expected to start pushing through this afternoon. Looking at the cloud bases in Colorado, they range between 10,000 and 16,000ft with some potential of cloud bases being as low as 6,500ft but its uncertain if those lower cloud decks will make it here. Between 21 and 01z there is some potential for very brief rain showers for KLAR and KCYS. However, the feeling that it may end up as virga also has a pretty good grip in the back of my mind. Winds are expected to lightly gust this afternoon up to 20 knots but will become pretty light after 00z.