April showers, Wyo experiences wet weather in early spring

During the week ending April 8, cooler than normal temperatures were seen, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office for the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of USDA. Across the state, 32 of 34 reporting stations reported below average temperatures, with a low of -16 in Yellowstone. 

However, below normal moisture was also reported at 18 of 34 reporting stations. 

NASS says, “A reporter from northwest Wyoming indicated snow stopped any farm progress, and a reporter from north-central Wyoming stated harsh wind and snow was hard on livestock and no field work had yet been done.” 

Western Wyoming also saw a cold, wet week, which made the ground too wet for farming, and stress was seen for those calving and lambing. 

March 2018 precipitation was 100 to 110 percent of average, according to the Wyoming Water Supply Outlook. 

“Current water year precipitation is averaging 100 to 110 percent of normal across Wyoming, and mountain snowpack is 105 to 115 percent of median,” said James Fahey, Wyoming National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hydrologist. “Precipitation numbers varied between 142 percent of normal over the Snake River Drainage in western Wyoming to near 68 percent of average over the Clarks Fork/Shoshone River Basin in northwest Wyoming.”

Near normal snowmelt stream volumes are still expected across Wyoming during the upcoming runoff season.

Visit weather.gov/riw/local_Hydrology or nass.usda.gov for more in-depth water and hydrology reports.