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Click here for graphic showing U.S. Department of Commerce logo and link to site Climate of 2003 - March
Wyoming Drought

National Climatic Data Center, 15 April 2003

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Winter storms brought significant rain and snow to much of Wyoming during the month, giving the state a rank of 16th wettest March on record. However, severe long-term moisture deficits remain, with April 2002-March 2003 ranking as the 12th driest such 12-month period.

According to the Wyoming State Climatologist (Jan Curtis):

Temperatures for the month of March were quite varied across Wyoming. Average temperatures ranged from >6 degrees F above normal in Sublette and Lincoln counties to <4 degrees F below normal in Sheridan county. Precipitation for the month of March also showed large variation across the state. The heaviest moisture amounts fell in portions of extreme eastern Wyoming and the northwest mountains (>200 percent of normal), the least over Carbon and Fremont counties (<25 percent of normal).

Since 1895, Wyoming had the 16th wettest March on record. Contribution from a couple of intense snowstorms helped lessen the impact of the four-year statewide drought.

Additional details, including a station-by-station description, are available at the Wyoming State Climatologist's web site:

http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/wsc/monthsum/2003Mar/2003Mar_summary.html

Statewide Precipitation Ranks
for Wyoming , 2002-2003
Period Rank
Mar 16th wettest
( 94th driest)
Feb-Mar 16th wettest
( 93rd driest)
Jan-Mar 27th wettest
( 83rd driest)
Dec-Mar 41st wettest
( 68th driest)
Nov-Mar 50th wettest
( 59th driest)
Oct-Mar 54th wettest
( 55th driest)
Sep-Mar 53rd wettest
( 56th driest)
Aug-Mar 50th wettest
( 59th driest)
Jul-Mar 54th driest
Jun-Mar 26th driest
May-Mar 12th driest
Apr-Mar 12th driest
Click here for graphic showing Wyoming statewide precipitation departures, January 1998 - present
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Click here for graphic showing Wyoming statewide Palmer Z Index, January 1998 - present
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Click here for graphic showing Wyoming statewide precipitation, March     1895-2003
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Click here for graphic showing Wyoming statewide Palmer Hydrological Drought Index, January 1900 - March     2003
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Graphic showing NOAA logo NCDC / Clim. Monitoring / Climate-2003 / Mar / U.S. Regional Drought / Search / Help

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