The Church Buttes is an eroded sandstone butte formation in Uinta County, Wyoming. It is notable for its prehistorical archaeological remains as well as being the location a camp site for the first party of Mormon leader Brigham Young, July 7, 1847.[1] It was the site of one of the relays for the pony express.[2]

Photograph of the Church Buttes by Andrew J. Russell, 1868

The U.S. Geographic Names Information System identifies another Church Butte in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.[3]

Climate

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According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, the area has a cold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded at the Church Buttes Gas Plant was 100 °F (37.8 °C) on June 24, 1985, while the coldest temperature recorded was −40 °F (−40.0 °C) on December 21, 1990.[4]

Climate data for Church Battles Gas Plant, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1955–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 54
(12)
58
(14)
71
(22)
80
(27)
89
(32)
100
(38)
98
(37)
98
(37)
94
(34)
82
(28)
67
(19)
60
(16)
100
(38)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 44.9
(7.2)
47.2
(8.4)
58.7
(14.8)
69.7
(20.9)
78.5
(25.8)
87.2
(30.7)
91.5
(33.1)
89.4
(31.9)
83.4
(28.6)
73.0
(22.8)
58.4
(14.7)
46.3
(7.9)
92.1
(33.4)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 31.2
(−0.4)
32.7
(0.4)
43.3
(6.3)
52.2
(11.2)
63.3
(17.4)
75.2
(24.0)
83.4
(28.6)
81.3
(27.4)
71.3
(21.8)
56.9
(13.8)
41.2
(5.1)
31.4
(−0.3)
55.3
(12.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 21.9
(−5.6)
22.9
(−5.1)
33.0
(0.6)
39.9
(4.4)
50.2
(10.1)
60.7
(15.9)
69.0
(20.6)
67.1
(19.5)
57.4
(14.1)
44.1
(6.7)
31.0
(−0.6)
21.8
(−5.7)
43.2
(6.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 12.5
(−10.8)
13.1
(−10.5)
22.6
(−5.2)
27.6
(−2.4)
37.1
(2.8)
46.3
(7.9)
54.5
(12.5)
52.8
(11.6)
43.5
(6.4)
31.2
(−0.4)
20.8
(−6.2)
12.2
(−11.0)
31.2
(−0.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −5.5
(−20.8)
−3.3
(−19.6)
7.1
(−13.8)
15.9
(−8.9)
24.8
(−4.0)
34.3
(1.3)
45.0
(7.2)
42.8
(6.0)
30.0
(−1.1)
14.9
(−9.5)
2.4
(−16.4)
−4.3
(−20.2)
−11.2
(−24.0)
Record low °F (°C) −35
(−37)
−35
(−37)
−15
(−26)
−2
(−19)
11
(−12)
25
(−4)
30
(−1)
29
(−2)
5
(−15)
−19
(−28)
−16
(−27)
−40
(−40)
−40
(−40)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.53
(13)
0.35
(8.9)
0.48
(12)
0.79
(20)
1.21
(31)
0.86
(22)
0.42
(11)
0.70
(18)
1.09
(28)
0.73
(19)
0.47
(12)
0.24
(6.1)
7.87
(201)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 6.9
(18)
4.7
(12)
4.1
(10)
2.3
(5.8)
1.1
(2.8)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.3
(0.76)
1.1
(2.8)
5.6
(14)
4.7
(12)
30.8
(78.16)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 3.5 3.1 3.5 4.4 5.6 4.0 2.9 4.1 3.9 3.7 3.5 3.6 45.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 3.0 2.5 2.6 1.2 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.7 2.4 2.4 15.4
Source 1: NOAA[5]
Source 2: National Weather Service[4]

References

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  1. ^ Federal Writers Project (1941), Wyoming: A Guide to Its History, Highways, and People, American guide series, North American Book Dist LLC, p. 261, ISBN 0403021995.
  2. ^ Guthrie, Carol; Smith, Bart (2009), The Pony Express: An Illustrated History, Two Dot Series, Globe Pequot, p. 90, ISBN 0762748168.
  3. ^ "Church Butte". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  4. ^ a b "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Salt Lake City". National Weather Service. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  5. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Church Buttes Gas PLT, WY". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
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  • Walsh, Dave (July 13, 2012), "Church Buttes", Wonders of Wyoming, retrieved 2012-08-17
  • "Church Butte". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2013-12-31.

41°30′20″N 110°08′06″W / 41.50551°N 110.13487°W / 41.50551; -110.13487