Flash flooding is the dominant natural hazard at Fossil Butte National Monument, with 2 recorded flash flood events logged for Lincoln County. Wyoming's high desert terrain channels rainfall rapidly into gullies and dry washes — the same scenic formations that make this monument worth visiting can funnel water with almost no warning, even when skies above you look clear.
Before heading out on any trail, check the National Weather Service forecast specifically for Lincoln County and scan for thunderstorm activity within a 20-mile radius — storms miles away can send water rushing through an area under blue skies. Carry a weather radio or a satellite communicator like a Garmin inReach so you can receive alerts in this remote, low-cell-coverage area. If you're parked in a low-lying pullout or dry wash and rain is forecast, move your rig to higher ground before nightfall.
Top recorded hazards in Lincoln County
County dataFrom NOAA Storm Events (2024). Counts of recorded incidents — not all occurred at this park.
- Flash Flood 2
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About Fossil Butte National Monument
In the ridges of southwest Wyoming are some of the best-preserved fossils in the world. They tell the story of ancient life in a warm, wet environment in and around a freshwater lake. Stingrays swam in the lake. Turtles basked in the sun. Leaves rustled in the breeze while early horses darted between the trunks. We reveal more of the past with each fossil found.
Weather
Expect a variety of weather conditions no matter what time of year you visit. Spring, fall and winter can be very cold with snow and icy conditions. In spring, daytime temperatures usually range from 30 F to 65 F. Summer daytime temperatures range from 60 F to 90 F. Fall daytime temperatures range from 45 F to 70 F. Winter daytime temperatures range from -20 F to 30 F.