Recent and Current Conditions
Wyoming experienced its 23rd coolest and 45th wettest April out of 128 years, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) database, retrieved May 23. Scaling to the county level – the adjacent tables show temperature and precipitation rankings of select counties for the month of April.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) map for Wyoming, released May 19, shows 100 percent of Wyoming continues to experience abnormally dry conditions (D0) – or moderate to extreme drought (D1 – D3). This is the 36th consecutive week all of Wyoming is in a “D” category.
To learn more about the USDM and how the percentiles work, watch a 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-Cast
NOAA’s eight to 14-day forecast for June 2-8, made May 25, shows there is a 33 to 50 percent probability or chance for below average temperatures for nearly all of Wyoming.
The exception is along the southern border where temperatures are anticipated to be near normal. For the same timeframe, the forecast shows a 33 to 50 percent probability for above normal precipitation for the northern half of Wyoming and near normal precipitation for the southern half of the state.
The June forecast, made May 19, indicates a 33 to 60 percent chance of above normal temperatures throughout Wyoming, with the probability of increasing chances from north to south. For the same timeframe, there is a 33 to 50 percent probability for below normal precipitation throughout the state. For details and to view more NOAA forecasts, visit cpc.ncep.noaa.gov.
Reminder – the 2022 Grass-Cast maps, which forecast grassland productivity, are now available. Visit grasscast.unl.edu/ to view the maps, which are updated biweekly and ask yourself – if rain through August is above, near or below normal, how much range vegetation might grow in your 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.eduor or 307-367-4380.
