Local snowstorms have dumped inches throughout Sweetwater County during the past few months, but the area is still considered abnormally dry according to a report from the U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday.
Despite that classification, drought conditions in southern Wyoming could improve.
Abnormally dry is the lowest drought rating listed on the drought monitor, which uses a five-point scale ending with “exceptional drought.” According to the National Weather Service’s drought information page, areas that are abnormally dry are considered to be going into a more severe drought or recovering from one. The area experiences some water deficits and short-term dryness that impacts planting and slows plant growth. Pastures or crops in the area also haven’t completely recovered from a drought.
According to a map, the entire county is within a wide swath of area encompassing 56.71 percent of the state. The area includes the entirety of Uinta and Sublette counties, as well as a majority of Carbon and Lincoln counties.
Large portions of Uinta and Lincoln counties are experiencing a moderate drought, one level above abnormally dry, according to the map.
Despite being considered abnormally dry, conditions through much of central and southern Sweetwater County have improved since the beginning of the year. Additionally, February precipitation on the Upper Green River Basin, is between 117-170 percent of average, while the Lower Green River Basin is within 85-116 percent of normal. The snow water equivalent is also slightly above average for the Upper Green, which is listed at 103 percent of normal. The Lower Green is recorded at 96 percent of normal snow water equivalent. A seasonal drought outlook published Feb. 21 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggests drought conditions in southwestern Wyoming could be removed this year.
“It looks like southern Wyoming will benefit the most from the Spring moisture,” Wyoming NOAA hydrologist James Fahey said. “If it materializes, the drought in southern Wyoming should almost be totally removed.”
Spring moisture occurs between April and June. While the outlook is positive, Fahey said he isn’t sure if the precipitation during those months will return the southern half of the state to its normal levels.
“Many areas in southern Wyoming receive at least half of their yearly precipitation totals during the April-June period,” he said.
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