Precipitation levels were below normal for the majority of Wyoming for the week ending June 12, 2022, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

The exception was in some far northern areas, where precipitation was as much as 1.5 inches above normal. Temperatures were above average in the greater part of the State last week.

In southern Wyoming, temperatures ran as much as 6 degrees above normal. Only in some northern parts of the State were temperatures below normal.

Drought conditions improved for a second week. According to the United States Drought Monitor for June 9, 2022, the amount of land that was now drought free stood at 3.8 percent, compared to zero last week. The amount of land rated as abnormally dry was 26.8 percent, an increase of 16.3 percentage points from last week’s 10.5 percent. Moderate drought fell to 45.5 percent of the State, compared to 65.2 percent last week. Severe drought fell slightly to 18.8 percent, compared to 19.0 percent last week. Extreme drought sat at 5.1 percent, compared to 5.3 percent last week.

The return of hot and dry conditions was expected to impair growth in Goshen County and some farmers began irrigating their fields.

A report from Lincoln County indicated the cooler trend had ended. Crop development was behind average, and with the warmer temperatures, farmers were seeing improved development in their fields. Most of the high-level snowpack had melted.

Irrigation water supplies were rated 7 percent poor, 64 percent fair, and 29 percent good, compared to 10 percent poor, 55 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 1 percent excellent last week.

Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 2 percent very short, 11 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus, compared to 2 percent very short, 17 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus last week.