Connecting Ag to Climate
By Windy Kelley
Wyoming experienced its 34th warmest and 40th driest September out of 126 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) database, retrieved Oct. 19.
Scaling to the county level, the tables below show September temperature and precipitation, as well as precipitation for the water year for select counties.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) map for Wyoming, from Oct. 15, shows more than seven percent of Wyoming is abnormally dry. Additionally, more than 30 percent of the state is experiencing moderate drought, nearly 33 percent is in severe drought and more than 27 percent is in extreme drought.
This is an increase in area and severity of drought conditions throughout the state since Sept. 17.
The current USDM map can be viewed at bit.ly/2S28VTA.
Eight- to 14-day and one-month forecasts
NOAA’s eight- to 14-day forecast for Oct. 28 through Nov. 3, made Oct. 20 is leaning towards below-normaltemperatures for the more northern areas of Wyoming, with a 33 percent probability or chance.
For the rest of Wyoming, there is an equal chance of below, near or above normal temperatures, except in the southwest corner of the state with a 33 percent probability for above average. For the same timeframe, there is a 40 to 50 percent probability of below-normal precipitation for all of Wyoming.
The November forecast for Wyoming, made Oct. 15, indicates a 33 to 40 percent probability of above-normal temperatures throughout most of Wyoming. The exception is the northern border of the state with an equal chance of below, near or above normal temperatures.
For the same timeframe, there is a 33 percent probability of below-normal precipitation for the southern half of Wyoming and an equal chance of below, near or above normal precipitation for the rest of the state. To view more NOAA 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 307-367-4325.
