Wyoming – The sky over the Wind River Range glows pale against the cold, dry air this morning as Riverton wakes to 18°F and a hush that feels like the calm before a change. Across western and central Wyoming, the stillness will hold through Thanksgiving — but winter’s edge is sharpening just beyond Friday’s horizon.
The National Weather Service in Riverton reports that Thanksgiving Day will be mostly sunny and calm, with highs reaching the low 40s and light winds. It’s ideal travel weather for those heading along Highway 26 or U.S. 287, and anyone making the trip through Casper or Jackson should see clear, stable skies through the day.
But beginning Friday afternoon, clouds thicken as a new disturbance slides south from Montana and Idaho, delivering a chance of snow showers across western and central counties. Gusty winds along the higher ridges could push visibility low at times, especially near South Pass and the Bighorn Mountains, where accumulations up to 6 inches are possible in the upper elevations.
By Saturday, colder air tightens its grip — highs only in the 20s, and lows plunging into the single digits. It’s expected to be the coldest air mass of the season so far, signaling the start of Wyoming’s early winter transition.
Looking ahead, meteorologists are tracking a larger Arctic front expected to move into the northern Rockies between December 1–5, which could bring heavier snow and widespread freezing temperatures across the state and beyond.
For now, Thanksgiving stays calm and bright — a welcome pause before winter settles in with a vengeance by the weekend.
