April Updated Drought Conditions For Wyoming & The West
This past winter, a high-pressure system that usually parks itself farther to the west, under Alaska, slid farther to the southeast. This bent the jet stream around Wyoming and other western states. While the rest of the northern hemisphere suffered through a brutally cold and snowy winter, it simply went around states parked under it.
This has not been the first time such a weather event has happened out west, but it is rare.
A dry winter and a dry spring mean high fire danger in the mountains and plains.
This is a prediction. At the same time, meteorologists are seeing signs of a wetter spring and possibly a wet summer. But let's see how that plays out.New Seasonal Drought Outlook by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s NOAA NWS Climate Prediction Center.
Expected drought development: Most of the West that is not currently in drought
Improvement: Southern Plains, South, Lower Midwest, part of the Northeast and Southeast, and HI.
You can view this map here, but it is interactive if you click this link and go to the U.S. Drought Monitor site.
Wyoming has a fire restrictions map at this link.
Authors from these agencies rotate creating the map each week, using both physical indicators and input from local observers.
This map is used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to trigger some disaster declarations and loan eligibility. Individual states and water supply planning may use additional information to inform their declarations and actions.
Penny's Diner At Bill Wyoming
Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods
Jay Em, Wyoming, Frozen In Time
Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods