Connecting Ag to Climate Recent and current conditions

Published on Jan. 11, 2020

Wyoming’s overall average November temperature (30.6°F) was near the 1900-2000 average for the state. Similarly, the state received an average of 1.05 inches of precipitation in November, which was also near the average for the last century. 

            The adjacent tables highlight minimum and maximum temperatures and precipitation rankings and anomalies, compared to the last century, for select counties, for the month of November.

            The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) map for Wyoming, from Dec. 31, indicates that abnormally dry conditions persisted in Carbon, Sweetwater, Uinta and Lincoln counties since Nov. 26. Abnormally dry conditions expanded their footprint in Lincoln County and into Teton, Park, Fremont and Sublette counties. 

            In total, 24.87 percent of the state is abnormally dry. View the current USDM maps at weather.gov/riw/drought. You can help inform the USDM by submitting conditions and impacts at droughtreporter.unl.edu/submitreport.

            The snow water equivalent (SWE) throughout Wyoming ranges from 66 – 149% of normal according to the January 7 USDA Natural Resource Conservation Snow Telemetry Service (SNOTEL) report. The two areas with the lowest SWE are the southern portion of Fremont County just north of the Great Divide Basin, 66 percent, and the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park 82 percent. View the current SWE map at colorado.edu/climate/dashboard.html.

Eight to 14-day and one-month forecasts

            National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) eight to 14-day forecasts for January 15-21, made Jan. 7 indicates a 50-70 percent chance or probability of below normal temperatures for all of Wyoming. There is a 33-40 percent probability for above normal precipitation throughout the entire state for the same timeframe.

            The forecast for January, made Dec. 31, indicates a 33-40 percent probability for below normal temperatures for most of Wyoming. The exception is the eastern third of the state where there is an equal chance for below, near or above normal temperatures. For the same timeframe, there is a 33-40 percent probability for above normal precipitation for the northern half of the state. To view NOAA’s most recent forecasts, visit cpc.ncep.noaa.gov.

            Windy K. Kelley is the regional extension program coordinator and state specialist for the USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub, University of Wyoming Extension and WAFERx. She can be reached at wkelley1@uwyo.edu or at 307-367-4325.