CHEYENNE, Wyo — Unseasonably cooler temperatures over the next 2 weeks won’t necessarily bring more moisture to Wyoming, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The Climate Prediction Center’s (CPC) drought outlook monitor said above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation trends were expected to persist through the end of November, especially in central and eastern regions. Precipitation levels will be closer to normal levels across the north, said NWS.
The USDA’s Wyoming Crop Progress Report for August said 83% of topsoil moisture across the state was “short to very short”, compared to 55% at this time in 2019 and the 5-year average of 49%.
Hay production has been negatively impacted, and reservoir levels have dropped 15% since July as demand for irrigation downstream has increased.
Extreme drought (D3) conditions remained across extreme eastern Big Horn, northern and south central Johnson, northeastern and central Natrona, eastern Hot Springs and central Washakie Counties.
Severe drought (D2) conditions increased across southwest Sweetwater County, while continuing across the rest of Johnson, Washakie and Natrona Counties, as well as eastern Big Horn, central and eastern Fremont, and northeastern Sweetwater Counties.
Moderate Drought (D1) conditions continued across the rest of Sweetwater and Hot Springs Counties, as well as central and southern Big Horn, west central Fremont, southeast Park and southern and eastern Lincoln Counties.
Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions remained across the rest of Park, western Fremont, southern and eastern Sublette, south-central Lincoln and northwest Big Horn Counties.