Wyoming

Polar Vortex Is About To Make Things A Lot Colder Across Wyoming

Published

2 months ago

December 5, 2025

Polar Vortex Is About To Make Things A Lot Colder Across Wyoming

Cold winds are coming for Wyoming, and so is the polar vortex. When it does, it could become one of the coldest winters in recent memory.

That’s the sequence of winter weather events being monitored by the NASA Climate Center.

People are interpreting data collected from the Arctic as an imminent “collapse” of the Northern Hemisphere’s polar vortex, bringing the coldest winter in years to North America and Europe.

Statements like this elicit “a heavy sigh” from Cowboy State Daily meteorologist Don Day.

“Anytime I see a news story that starts with ‘scientists say,’ red flags immediately go up,” he said. “Chill out. Take a step back before making extraordinary claims.”

Nevertheless, there’s some legitimacy to what’s being said. Wyoming will be chilling out, and the polar vortex will have a significant impact on Wyoming’s winter, depending on where you are.

“The next week to 10 days is going to make my life very difficult,” Day said. “The polar vortex is going to collapse and reform, bringing cold air outbreaks and a lot of winter. The million-dollar question is how far that Arctic air will penetrate into Wyoming.”

Gyrating And Wobbling

The polar vortex is a typical winter phenomenon. It’s when atmospheric conditions align so that a massive surge of frigid air escapes the Arctic and descends into the Northern Hemisphere.

Day said the polar vortex does “collapse,” but that shouldn’t be seen as catastrophic. It’s not a one-and-done occurrence.

“In some winter seasons, there will be the tendency for the polar vortex to go through different phases, which allow it to weaken and venture further south into the lower latitudes,” he said. “This is one of those seasons.”

Day has been calling for a colder, snowier winter for months, based on current weather patterns and historical data. The polar vortex’s oscillations factored into his long-range forecast for the winter season.

However, “colder and snowier” doesn’t mean the weather will stay that way every day from November to whenever winter ends. Day said Wyoming’s winter tends to “gyrate” quite a bit.

“I think a lot of people’s perceptions are that a cold winter stays cold all the time, 24/7, and we have days and days and days where it’s cold,” he said. “That really doesn’t happen here.”

That’s why Day hesitates to embrace any forecast that “paints with a broad brush.” Winter manifests differently everywhere, especially in Wyoming.

Clash Of The Titans

While the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic are the dominant forces shaping Wyoming’s weather, their impact isn’t universal. That’s because Wyoming straddles the all-important Continental Divide.

According to Day, cold Arctic air is denser than warmer Pacific air. He likes to describe it as “molasses and maple syrup.”

“It is always going to go to the lowest point of gravity, so it’ll stay close to the ground,” he said.

When Arctic and Pacific air collide, Wyoming becomes a “battleground” because of the complex geography of the Continental Divide. Since the Divide splits Wyoming in half, the clash between the air masses leads to different weather on either side.

“The contrast between those two air masses gets difficult,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a standoff, and sometimes one air mass wins out over the other. If the Arctic air isn’t deep enough when it comes out of Canada, it will climb over the Divide. The Pacific air pushes moisture and air into the western side, while the eastern side gets much colder.”

That’s what Day anticipates happening next week. The eastern and western halves of Wyoming will experience very different winter weather.

“It can be 40 degrees with rain and snow in Jackson, while it could be near zero and snowy in Gillette,” he said. “That’s the contrast between these two air masses.”

When the polar vortex “collapses,” it will bring freezing cold to Wyoming. There could be a plethora of sub-zero days, but Day said it won’t determine the course of the entire winter.

“For Wyoming, the polar vortex is episodic,” he said. “The Arctic air will come in, leave, and come back again. There will be stormy weather during the transitions from one air mass to another. That’s the back and forth we experience in Wyoming.”

The Winter That’s Coming

Day believes getting overly concerned about a polar vortex collapse is sensationalizing a well-known weather pattern. However, there’s no denying that more winter is coming to Wyoming.

“Most of Wyoming’s major mountain ranges got a foot of snow last night, and there’s probably another one to two feet coming between now and Sunday,” he said. “What we’re seeing is the Arctic air retreating and giving way to the Pacific moisture.”

Next week will be mild across most of Wyoming due to an influx of Pacific air and moisture. By the end of next week, another surge of Arctic air will change that dynamic once again.

The back-and-forth nature of winter weather might be frustrating or even concerning, but Day said it’s a good thing in the broad strokes. When Arctic and Pacific air battle over Wyoming, the state benefits from the fallout.

“The contrast between the Pacific and Arctic patterns does favor snow,” he said. “One rule of weather forecast for the mountains is that anytime you get an Arctic outbreak in the Rockies, that transition always leads to a big mountain snow event, which will eventually reach the plains, as well.”

Day told Wyomingites to expect freezing outbreaks, but not relentless outbreaks, of extreme cold and winter weather in the weeks and months to come. The polar vortex is collapsing and will continue to do so, but that doesn’t necessarily indicate an imminent catastrophe.

“We never have permanent winter in Wyoming,” he said. “We’re going to have severe cold at times, but there are going to be breaks. That’s a typical winter in Wyoming.”

Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.

Source link

Wyoming

New Film Examines the Delicate Balance of Wyoming’s Bighorn Sheep Herds

Published

8 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Press Room

New Film Examines the Delicate Balance of Wyoming’s Bighorn Sheep Herds

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has released a new documentary examining the challenges of managing bighorn sheep populations across the state.

The film, Carrying Capacity: The Hunt for Resilience, premiered online Jan. 19 and is now available for public viewing. Produced and directed by Snowday, the documentary focuses on how wildlife managers balance population growth, disease risk and long-term sustainability, using two Wyoming herds as case studies — the Jackson Herd and the Ferris-Seminoe Herd.

The film features perspectives from scientists, wildlife managers and hunters, highlighting how hunting and disease management play interconnected roles in conserving bighorn sheep.

According to Game and Fish, the Jackson Herd continues to face ongoing challenges from pneumonia pathogens and recurring outbreaks, while the Ferris-Seminoe Herd has remained largely disease-free. However, the Ferris-Seminoe population’s ability to grow and expand increases the risk of future disease transmission if population levels exceed the area’s carrying capacity.

To manage herd health and prevent overcrowding, Game and Fish has implemented targeted ewe and lamb hunts. Officials describe the strategy as a proactive approach designed to maintain sustainable population levels while protecting the long-term viability of Wyoming’s bighorn sheep.

The film was made possible through partnerships with organizations and companies including the Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation, Teton Conservation District, University of Wyoming Monteith Shop, and several outdoor industry sponsors.

Game and Fish also plans to host in-person screenings and panel discussions across Wyoming later this spring, with additional details expected to be announced soon.

The release of the film comes as research continues on the proposed Seminoe Storage Project, an area known to provide prime bighorn sheep habitat within the Ferris-Seminoe range. Wildlife officials say ongoing studies will help better understand how habitat conditions, population pressures and future development could affect the herd.

Weirdest Creatures in the Cowboy State

Wyoming’s animals are wild and weird. Pronghorns rocket across the plains, bison casually block roads, and sage grouse strut around like they own the place. Coyotes, eagles, and mountain lions pop up out of nowhere, making it feel like the state is one big, unpredictable wildlife show.

📣✨ State Spirit Competition in Casper

📣🏆 Cheerleaders, dancers, and stunt teams from across the state brought their energy, skill, and school pride to compete for top honors in cheer, hip-hop, jazz, gameday, and more. It’s an action-packed celebration of teamwork and talent you won’t want to miss! 💥🙌

Gallery Credit: Kolby Fedore

Source link

Wyoming

PRCA ‘seriously’ considering relocating to Cheyenne, Wyoming

Published

20 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

PRCA ‘seriously’ considering relocating to Cheyenne, Wyoming

State

Zip Code

Country

Source link

Wyoming

Recognizing Conservation Champions: Wyoming Outdoor Hall Of Fame Seeks Nominations

Published

1 day ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

Recognizing Conservation Champions: Wyoming Outdoor Hall Of Fame Seeks Nominations

Living the outdoor lifestyle is one of the major attractions of Wyoming for residents. Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife, and sightseeing bring millions of people to visit each year. Conservation plays a significant role in keeping those options available for everyone, and it takes many people working together to make that happen.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department relies on those who are passionate about conserving the Wyoming way of life, and there are always those who go above and beyond. That’s why WGFD is now taking nominations for the 2026 class of the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made significant and lasting lifetime contributions to the conservation of Wyoming’s outdoor heritage. Since 2004, it has recognized individuals who have worked consistently over many years to conserve Wyoming’s natural resources through volunteer service, environmental restoration, educational activities, audio/visual and written media, the arts and political and individual leadership.

Historic names like President Theodore Roosevelt, Curt Gowdy, James H. “Jim” Bridger, and Buffalo Bill Cody are among the names who have been etched into Wyoming history by being inducted into the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame.

Could your name be next to those? Absolutely, if you meet the criteria.

The following represents standards for induction into the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame. The Selection Committee shall use these standards as a written guide in making inductee selections. but shall not be limited to only these standards:

Whether the nominee’s contribution was of such a nature as to have statewide, inter-state or national significance;
Whether the nominee’s contribution affected a wide range of natural resources and their
use;
Whether the nominee’s contributions were made in a manner that will enable them to be
measured in the context of past inductee or nominee contributions, and in the historical
setting of the time in which he or she lived, or lives;
The nominee must have influenced conservation in Wyoming through a sustained and
outstanding contribution during the course of their employment, or through volunteer efforts, in at least one – and preferably several – of the following areas:
- Environmental law enforcement
- Applied resource management
- Conservation education
- Conservation policy formation, legislation, and public leadership
- Conservation-oriented research
- Conservation literature, art, or journalism
- Volunteer or paid efforts in the interest of conservation
If the nominee is a living person, to be considered, they shall be at a stage in their career where their contributions to conservation are undeniable and unlikely to be impugned by any present or future endeavors.

On top of the Hall of Fame nominations, WGFD is looking for nominations for the Wyoming Youth Conservationist of the Year award. This award honors residents 18 and under for their leadership and achievements in conservation.