Heat in Wind River Basin, Wyoming

It was a record breaking second half of the month of March at the Riverton airport. For the period from March 17 to March 30, the average daily temperatures were more than 17 degrees above normal. For the period March 17 to 21, average temperatures were more than 25 degrees above normal. Eight daily record high temperatures were broken. The previous all time monthly high of 76 degrees was broken 5 times, including four consecutive days from March 18 to 21. There were 3 high temperatures in the 80s, the first three 80 degree high temperatures in March in station history. The high of 80 degrees on March 19 was more than a month earlier than the previous earliest 80 degree of April 22 in 2012. Records at the Riverton airport date back to 1997.

A very strong ridge of high pressure set up across much of the western United States and brought an long period of record breaking warmth. The most impressive stretch was from March 18 through March 21. In total, 71 new daily record high temperatures were set out of a possible 126 high temperatures at RIW CLI sites (longer term climate sites), greater than half of the daily highs. Every location was at least 10 degrees above normal through the period. Every location had their all time warmest period for these two weeks, with three locations; the Riverton Airport, the Sweetwater County airport near Rock Springs, and the Lander airport; more than 8 degrees above the previous warmest period. All locations set their all time high temperature March multiple times in this stretch. Six locations had their earliest 80 degree high temperature, with four stations having their first 80 degree or greater March high temperatures in station history.