Recent and Current Conditions
By Windy Kelley
Wyoming experienced its 38th coldest and 35th wettest May out of 128 years according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information database, retrieved June 20. Scaling to the county level, the adjacent tables show temperature and precipitation rankings of select counties for the month of May.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) map for Wyoming, released June 16, shows areas of Wyoming have seen an improvement in conditions. Over seven percent of Wyoming is now classified as ‘none’ on the USDM – while over 28 percent is classified as abnormally dry, and nearly 65 percent of Wyoming continues to experience moderate to extreme drought.
To learn more about the USDM and how the percentiles work, watch the brief YouTube video titled “How are the drought categories assigned” at bit.ly/3wGW5xC.
View the current USDM map at bit.ly/2S28VTA.
Consider submitting a Condition Monitoring Observer Report at bit.ly/3c4WRLR.
Eight to 14-day, one month and grass forecasts
NOAA’s eight to 14-day forecast for June 29-July 5, made June 21, shows there is a 33 to 50 percent probability (or chance) for above normal temperatures for all of Wyoming.
For the same timeframe, the forecast shows a 33 to 50 percent probability for above normal precipitation for nearly all of the state. The exception is the northern quarter of the state where near normal precipitation is forecasted.
The July forecast, made June 16, indicates a 33 to 60 percent chance of above normal temperatures throughout most of Wyoming. The exception is the most northern portion of the state where there is an equal chance for above, near or below normal temperatures.
For the same timeframe, there is an equal chance for above, near or below normal precipitation for much of Wyoming – except the southeastern corner where there is a 33 to 40 percent probability for below normal precipitation.
For details and to view more NOAA forecasts, visit cpc.ncep.noaa.gov.
The 2022 grass forecast maps, which forecast grassland productivity, are now available. Visit grasscast.unl.edu/ to view the maps (updated biweekly) and ask yourself – if rain through August is above, near or below normal, how much range vegetation might grow in the area?
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.
