Connecting Ag to Climate: Recent and Current Conditions
Wyoming experienced its 12th warmest and 16th wettest February out of 130 years, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information database, retrieved March 26.
Scaling to the county level, the adjacent tables include temperature and precipitation rankings of select counties for the month of February.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) map for Wyoming, released March 21, classifies over 28.5 percent of Wyoming as being abnormally dry (D0), and it shows over 25.5 percent of the state in moderate (D1) or severe drought (D2).
The remainder of the state – nearly 46 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 April 3-9, issued March 26, shows a 33 to 40 percent probability of below normal temperatures for all of Wyoming.
For the same timeframe, there is a 33 to 50 percent probability for above average precipitation for the state – with a slightly higher chance in the greater, southwestern corner.
The one-month forecast for April, issued March 21, indicates a 33 to 60 percent probability for above normal temperatures for most of Wyoming. The exception is the greater southeastern corner of the state, where there is an equal chance for below, near or above normal temperatures.
For the same timeframe, the forecast shows an equal chance for below, near or above normal precipitation for most of Wyoming. The exception is much of the eastern border, where there is a 33 to 40 percent probability for above average 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.
