Warm, mostly sunny Memorial Day weekend forecast for Laramie area

Warm holiday weather, but watch the afternoon sky

Memorial Day weekend is shaping up as a good one for barbecues, short drives, and time outside in Albany County, but the safest windows come earlier in the day. The warm-up will peak by Monday, and the first real risk for disruptions arrives with isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms, especially after noon in Laramie and later in Cheyenne.

The weekend at a glance

The National Weather Service office in Cheyenne says a warming trend will carry through the holiday stretch, with near-record high temperatures possible by Monday. It also says isolated high-based showers and storms may pop up each afternoon, but rainfall should stay limited. That makes this a classic southeast Wyoming setup: plenty of usable outdoor weather, but enough atmosphere for quick changes.

For Laramie, the updated Memorial Day point forecast calls for a high near 74 degrees with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Cheyenne is expected to run warmer, near 79 degrees, with a 20 percent chance of storms after 3 p.m. Those numbers matter for anyone trying to stage a picnic, a cemetery visit, a graduation gathering, or a longer holiday drive.

Friday and Saturday favor the early part of the day

Friday starts the stretch on the cooler side. Cheyenne was forecast to see sunshine and a high near 60, while Laramie was expected to reach about 54 with breezy conditions. Overnight frost was still possible in Laramie, a reminder that late May in the valley can still feel more like shoulder season than summer.

Saturday looks like one of the best all-around days of the weekend. The forecast called for mostly sunny skies, highs in the upper 60s in the Cheyenne area and around 64 in Laramie, with only a slight chance of showers or thunderstorms. If you are planning to grill, camp, or haul equipment for a holiday project, Saturday offers the most comfortable mix of warmth and low storm chances.

Sunday and Monday bring the holiday heat

Sunday turns warmer, with highs near 79 in Cheyenne and around 73 in Laramie, again with only a small chance of storms. That should give Albany County families a broad afternoon window for outdoor plans, but the key is still to finish the most weather-sensitive activities before late day.

Memorial Day itself should be the warmest and most summerlike part of the stretch. Cheyenne is forecast to reach about 79 to 80 degrees, while Laramie continues warming to a high near 74. The weather will still look mostly sunny, but the added heat and the chance of afternoon storms mean a backyard meal or road trip is best planned with some flexibility.

For people trying to stretch the holiday into the evening, Monday is the day to keep an eye on the sky. Near-record highs are possible, and even a low storm chance becomes more important when families are scattered across campsites, parks, and highway miles.

Where the weather can change fastest

The forecast is not the same across southeast Wyoming, and elevation is a big reason why. The National Weather Service notes that Laramie Regional Airport sits at 7,270 feet, while Cheyenne Airport is at 6,116 feet. That difference helps explain why Laramie often runs cooler and why frost and snow risks linger longer there than they do farther east.

The National Weather Service also issued a Freeze Warning for the valleys of Carbon and Albany counties. That warning is a clear signal that even during a warm holiday weekend, cold nighttime pockets can still catch gardeners, campers, and anyone leaving plants or hoses outside by surprise. The overnight frost potential mentioned for Laramie fits the same pattern.

Why the late-May freeze risk still matters

The frost and freeze statistics from the National Weather Service are based on records from 1951 through 2025, and they show just how long cold weather can hang on in Laramie. The median last freeze date there is June 5, and the 90th percentile last freeze date is June 22. In Cheyenne, by contrast, the median last freeze date is May 13 and the 90th percentile last freeze date is May 25.

That contrast is one of the most useful planning details for Albany County readers. It means Memorial Day may feel like the start of summer in some places, but in Laramie, it is still close enough to freeze season that sensitive plants, portable water lines, and overnight camping gear need attention.

What changes after Monday

The calm stretch does not last long. The National Weather Service says the chance of thunderstorms and rainfall will increase Tuesday and continue through much of the following week, with stronger storms possible on Wednesday. Breezy conditions may also return, which could complicate travel, outdoor work, and cleanup after the holiday.

The weather discussion adds another important detail: some of the showers and storms could be high-based, which means rainfall may be limited. It also says very dry low levels could support dry lightning. That combination is especially important in southeast Wyoming, where a storm can bring lightning and wind without much rain to settle fire danger.

Best timing for holiday plans

The most reliable weather window is before storms have a chance to build in the afternoon. Early Saturday and much of Sunday offer the best mix of sun, warmth, and lower storm risk. Monday should still work for most gatherings, but the safest bet is to get cooking, driving, or setting up before midday, then be ready to move indoors if clouds build.

• Plan yard work, travel departures, and longer hikes for the morning.
• Keep grills, tents, and picnic gear flexible enough to move quickly.
• Watch the sky more closely after noon in Laramie and after midafternoon in Cheyenne.
• Protect plants and outdoor plumbing if you are in a frost-prone spot, especially in and around Laramie.

Memorial Day weekend in Albany County should be comfortable, bright, and mostly dry enough for the usual holiday routines. The difference between a smooth outing and a weather scramble will come down to timing, especially once the afternoon storm chance starts to rise.