Snowpack slumps, but Winter Storm Cleon on the way

Posted 12/3/13

Winter Storm Cleon may drop a foot or more of snow into higher elevations today (Tuesday) and Wednesday, according to forecasts. That would boost the slumping snow piles in the state. Snowfall in the Powell area is expected to be modest, a few …

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Snowpack slumps, but Winter Storm Cleon on the way

A storm front coming from the west Monday foretells a major change in the weather this week. Monday’s reported high of 56 degrees came with mild weather and little wind, but forecasters say today’s (Tuesday’s) weather will bring a high of 13 degrees and a low of 2 degrees, with winds of 21 mph. Temperatures will plummet for the next several days, with lows below zero predicted.

Tribune stitched panorama by Ilene Olson

Posted Tuesday, December 3, 2013 5:31 pm

By Tribune Staff

Wyoming’s snowpack is declining, but it is expected to get a big boost this week.

But it will be extremely cold, with “highs” in single digits and lows that will hit dangerous levels, with 6 below forecast for the low on Wednesday.

The snowpack averages locally and across state are mostly declining, but remain higher than 2012.

“The SWE (snow water equivalent) is slipping a little as we are down to 131 percent of median,” said Lee Hackleman, water supply specialist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service office in Casper. “We were at 74 percent last year.”

Hackleman is talking about statewide averages.

The Shoshone basin SWE was 134 percent Monday. One week ago it was 131 percent and it was at 98 percent Dec. 2, 2012. The Big Horn basin SWE was 144 percent Monday. One week ago it was 156 percent and was 88 percent Dec. 2, 2012.

Those percentages are based on a 30-year average from the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The upper Bear basin is the lowest this week at 80 percent and the Belle Fourche basin the highest at 238 percent SWE.