Recent and current conditions
Wyoming experienced its fourth warmest and 22nd driest November out of 127 years according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) database, retrieved Dec. 20. Scaling to the county level, the adjacent tables show temperature and precipitation rankings of select counties for the month of November.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) map for Wyoming, released Dec. 16, shows 100 percent of Wyoming continues to experience abnormally dry or moderate to extreme drought. There is a greater amount of area classified as moderate, severe or extreme drought compared to the Nov. 18 map.
View the current USDM map at bit.ly/2S28VTA. Consider submitting a Condition Monitoring Observer Report at bit.ly/3c4WRLR.
Eight to 14-day and one-month forecasts
NOAA’s eight to 14-day forecast for Dec. 28 through Jan. 3, made Dec. 20, shows a 40 to 50 percent probability or chance for above average temperatures for all of Wyoming. For the same timeframe, there is a 40 to 70 percent probability for above average precipitation for the entire state.
The January forecast, made Dec. 16, indicates an equal chance of below, near or above normal temperatures throughout Wyoming.
For the same timeframe, there is a 33 to 50 percent probability for above normal precipitation for roughly the western two-thirds of the state. For the eastern third of the state, there is an equal chance for below, near, or above normal precipitation.
For details and to view more NOAA forecasts, visit cpc.ncep.noaa.gov.
Windy K. Kelley is the regional Extension program coordinator and state specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Northern Plains Climate Hub, University of Wyoming Extension and WAFERx. She can be reached at wkelley1@uwyo.edu or 307-367-4380.
