Statewide snowpack down to 78 percent of average; Wind River Basin at 95 percent

(Casper, Wyo.) – The Natural Resouces Conservation Service reported Monday that the snow water equivalent (SWE) of Wyoming’s winter snowpack continued to drop in the last week. According to the NRCS, the state is now at 78 percent of normal, compared with 95% of normal when comparaed with this week last year. “Our snow storms are bringing cold weather, but not much snow,” said Lee Hackleman, NRCS Water Supply Specialist in Casper.

The highest SWE average this week, at 104 percent, was the Madison River Drainage in Yellowstone National Park. Western Wyoming is faring better than the Big Horn Basin and the Eastern half of the state, with SWE’s ranging upwards of 92 percent of average. In the Wind River Basin drainage, the SWE this week is pegged at 95 percent of normal, a one percent drop from last week and five points lower than at this same time one year ago.