Saratoga, 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, Friday, into next weekend.

Short Term

Issued at 131 PM MDT Mon Oct 19 2026

A couple features evident on mid-level water vapor imagery that will play somewhat a role on our weather in the short term period. The first is a modest shortwave sliding across Kansas which aligns well with upper level pattern on the deterministic models. This will not bring an increase in precipitation chances; however, will increase our low-level moisture and cloud cover ever so slightly. This added cloud cover shows up nicely on VIS satellite imagery traversing across our western forecast zones. These clouds may play a role on our afternoon highs, keeping them a bit cooler than the forecast. With that being said, expect highs to climb into the the low to mid 60s while lows dip into the low to mid 40s. With the increase in low- level moisture, this will dampen, no pun, any fire weather concerns that we may see this afternoon with min RH values only bottoming out in the mid 20s to near 30 percent. By this evening, as the shortwave ejects off to the east, guidance shows skies becoming clear across the CWA and remaining so into the overnight hours. Winds will remain generally light, 10 mph or less, with a few gusts that may top out near 20-25 mph primarily in the Rawlins/Laramie/Cheyenne areas. Heading into Tuesday, a shortwave to our southwest that is also prevalent on water vapor imagery, will slide into and across the Central Rockies. This will bring increased chances of precipitation as hi-res model indicate; however, chances will remain slim as PoPs should be generally less than 15 percent. Current forecast highs are a tad warmer then today and range from the low to mid 60s west of I- 25 and upper 60s to low 70s east of the corridor with lows only tanking into the low to mid 40s. Taking a final look at winds, they look rather light across the CWA with speeds generally less than 10 mph once again.

Long Term

Issued at 131 PM MDT Mon Oct 19 2026

Wednesday...Westerly flow aloft continues and with dry low and mid levels, no precipitation is expected.

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 1054 PM MDT Mon Oct 19 2026

VFR conditions are expected for the forecast period. Winds will be generally light as well, but the direction may be variable at times, especially in Nebraska. Expect a few gusts of 20 to 25 knots at RWL on Tuesday. Scattered showers are expected to develop near LAR and CYS late Tuesday afternoon and carry into the early evening. Gusty variable winds and a brief downpour are possible. VIS drops and a few rumbles of thunder cannot be ruled out.