Connecting Ag to Climate: Recent and Current Conditions
Wyoming experienced its 46th warmest and 20th driest July out of 130 years, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information database, retrieved on Aug. 19.
Scaling to the county level, the adjacent tables include temperature and precipitation rankings of select counties for the month of July.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) map for Wyoming, released on Aug. 15, classifies nearly 42 percent of Wyoming as being abnormally dry (D0), and it shows nearly 55 percent of the state in moderate (D1) or severe drought (D2).
The remainder of the state – nearly four percent – is classified as none. In other words, these areas are not experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions.
View the current USDM map at bit.ly/usdm-wy. Consider submitting a Condition Monitoring Observer Report at bit.ly/condtionreports.
Eight- to 14-day and one-month forecasts
NOAA’s eight- to 14-day forecast for Aug. 26 to Sept. 1, issued on Aug. 19, shows a 33 to 50 percent probability of above normal temperatures for all of Wyoming.
For the same timeframe, there is a 33 to 40 percent probability for above average precipitation in the southeast corner of the state and an equal chance for below, near or above normal precipitation for the rest of Wyoming.
The one-month forecast for September, issued on Aug. 15, indicates a 33 to 70 percent probability of above normal temperatures for all of Wyoming. The probability is the greatest in the southwest corner of the state.
For the same timeframe, there is a 33 to 40 percent probability for below normal precipitation throughout much of Wyoming. The northwest corner of the state is the exception with an equal chance for below, near or above normal precipitation.
For additional information and 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, the University of Wyoming Extension and WAFERx. She can be reached at wkelley1@uwyo.edu or 307-367-4380.
