WYOMING Winter Range and Snowpack Report- Spring 2024
Guy Eastman
Coming off the worst winter in over 70-years, many in Wyoming were dreading what Mother Nature might have in store for us next. Could she be following us up with a horrible encore performance?
The verdict on that is just about in now, and the answer is a resounding NO…thank goodness. As of today, the statewide average snowpack is sitting right at 90% of a 30-year average. The driest area of the state is the northeast corner of the Black Hills and the Belle Fouche basin with only 40% of the average so far. Keep in mind however, these two regions generally receive a majority of their precipitation during the late spring and early summer months in the form of rain and spring snows, so all is not lost there yet.
If we remove these two regions from the average the remainder of the state is at better than 95% of normal so far this winter with more precipitation in the immediate forecast for next week which could put us right at or even slightly above the 30-year average.
The northwest corner of the state around Yellowstone National Park is just a tick below the average at around 90%. The winter in this region has been very mild with only one severe cold snap, which lasted about a week, but beyond that has seen very mild temperatures with good winds, which help wintering wildlife immensely. A few more spring storms and we will be in great shape for fishing this summer as will our wildlife. The elk and deer here have done very well this winter and should continue that trend into the summer months.
The southwest corner of the state has seen the highest snow load levels in the state this winter with some areas at 120% or more. For the most part the winter has not been all that horrible here with about average temperatures and a tick more snow than normal. This region contains many of the state’s most critical winter range habitats and a normal winter is certainly a welcome sight here given the catastrophic nature of the year prior. According to our sources in the area, the winter came very late which was a welcome change for these deer and antelope herds. The main bulk of the wintering deer herd from the Grey’s River country did not even show up on the winter range until well into the month of January. A drastic diversion from their arrival last year in November. These deer were able to stay at higher elevations allowing them to browse on much better feed for longer putting them in much better shape upon their arrival to the lower elevations. The outlook here is very good so far and the moisture should continue to improve the overall winter range habitat for future use.
The southeast corner of the state has rebounded into the 100-110% of normal range over the past few weeks. What had been an extremely dry winter has turned into a normal winter as the snow arrived late which actually should help the wildlife that is left down there to flourish into the spring and summer months.
As mentioned earlier the northeast corner of the state is a bit dry but that could change at any moment as the spring moisture patterns switch to the North as the winds of spring change directions. I am confident by the end of April we will be at or near 100% of normal here.
From a wildlife perspective, the overall outlook for Wyoming’s wintering wildlife is very good at this point. The deer and antelope that did somehow manage to survive the winter last year, should be in great shape this year and the fawn crop should be very strong as long as predator control is exercised aggressively throughout the state in the coming months. As always, we will keep you abreast of the changes and outlook going forward.
