Wyoming Water Supply Outlook--May 8, 2020

Snow Across the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast; Unsettled Weather in the West

Light to moderate snow will continue into Saturday over the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast. This weekend into next week, a series of atmospheric rivers will bring gusty winds, periods of heavy rain, and mountain snow to northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Colder temperatures are in store for the weekend from the Great Lakes to East Coast. Read More >

HIGHLIGHTS:

…Wyoming April 2020 precipitation was 75 to 85 percent of average...

...Current water year precipitation is averaging 90 to 100 percent of normal across Wyoming…

…Early May mountain snowpack across Wyoming is 85 to 95 percent of median...

…Near normal (90 to 105 percent) snowmelt streamflow volumes are still expected across several major basins in Wyoming…

…Wyoming reservoirs continue to average 75 to 85 percent of capacity in early May…

SYNOPSIS:

April 2020 precipitation totals across Wyoming were 75 to 85 percent of average. Precipitation numbers varied between 135 percent of normal over the Snake River Basin (far western Wyoming) to 60 to 65 percent of average over the Powder and Belle Fourche Drainages (northeastern Wyoming). Current water year (October 2019 - April 2020) precipitation across Wyoming was 90 to 100 percent of average.

Mountain snowpack across Wyoming was 85 to 95 percent of median by early May. Snowpack "water" numbers and/or SWEs were the highest across basins in northwestern Wyoming—varying between 105 to 115 percent of median. SWEs across basins in south central through southwestern Wyoming (Sweetwater, Upper Bear, and Lower Green Basins) were below 85 percent of median.

Near normal (95 to 105 percent) snowmelt streamflow volumes are still expected across several major basins in Wyoming. Above average snowmelt streamflow volumes are expected across portions of the Laramie, Upper North Platte, Shoshone, and Snake River Watersheds. The Sweetwater and Upper Green Basins as well as portions of the Little Wind River Drainage are still forecasted to have below normal streamflow volumes during the upcoming snowmelt season.

Wyoming reservoirs are averaging 75 to 85 percent of capacity in early May. Reservoir storages across Wyoming remained above average at 105 to 115 percent for May.

The Wyoming Water Supply Graphic: