Frigid temperatures as low as minus 44 set records in Wyoming

Christine Peterson 307-746-3121, Christine.Peterson@trib.com

@PetersonOutside

Updated 15 min ago

Temperatures as low as minus 44 swept across Wyoming on Friday morning, setting records in places such as the Riverton airport at minus 24 and Big Piney at minus 37, according to the National Weather Service in Riverton.

Laramie recorded its fifth-coldest temperature of all time Friday morning at minus 40. All Albany County schools closed for the day. The other four coldest temperatures were in 1962 and 1963.

Dangerously cold air spread across Wyoming on Thursday night and Friday. Lows included minus 44 near Rock Springs, minus 17 in Cheyenne and minus 10 at the Casper/Natrona County International Airport.

Wind chills Thursday night dropped as low as minus 56 in Rock River and minus 43 in Rawlins.