CASPER, Wyo. — Casper saw record-breaking heat Sunday as the mercury hit 100, setting a new September heat record. The previous record of 98 degrees was set in 2020.
More record-breaking and near-record heat is expected today through Thursday as a high-pressure system continues to dominate the Rocky Mountain region. The system has locked out moisture in the atmosphere, leaving the area to see sunny and clear skies.
With clear and sunny skies, save for some smoke in the air from western wildfires, the forecast high for Casper for Labor Day is 96 degrees, just 2 degrees shy of another 2020 heat record, the National Weather Service in Riverton said. The forecast high is 16 degrees above the average for Labor Day, according to National Weather Service records.
“Elevated to critical fire weather conditions likely in the afternoon,” meteorologists wrote in a Hazardous Weather Outlook. “Tuesday through Wednesday … very hot temperatures and low humidity will lead to elevated to near-critical fire weather across the area.”
Wednesday may be the hottest day of the week, if the forecast holds up. Tuesday’s forecast high is 95 degrees, while Wednesday’s is 98. Thursday’s high is forecast at 94 ahead of a cool front expected later in the day.
“A cold front will move through the area [on Thursday], with critical fire weather conditions likely in the afternoon. There will be a chance for showers and thunderstorms over northern portions in the afternoon and evening,” the outlook states.
Overnight lows tonight through Wednesday will be near 58 degrees.
As the cool front passes through late Thursday, the overnight low will fall to around 52 degrees. Relief from the early September heat wave will come Friday as the forecast high is just 74 degrees. Precipitation chances also return Friday as the high-pressure system moves east and moisture returns to the atmosphere.
“Once the front drops south through the state, the temperatures will show a significant drop of 15 to 20 degrees for Friday and staying cooler on Saturday. Ridging will rebuild by Sunday for a return to dry weather and warming temperatures,” meteorologists wrote in the forecast discussion.
More on the forecast is available on the National Weather Service’s website.
