March 24th 2026 |
Photo – File Photo
After 15 months without significant precipitation, Carbon County faces drought conditions as we enter the first week of spring.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2026 has been the 19th‑driest year in Carbon County since records began in 1895. The driest year on record was 2012. NOAA also reports that last month was the 29th‑driest February in the past 132 years.
While all of Carbon County has been affected by the lack of rainfall, more than half of the county is experiencing severe to extreme drought. The dry weather is impacting more than 81,000 acres of hay, 51,000 cattle, and 185 pigs.
Any relief is a long way off. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center forecasting indicates drought conditions will persist at least through June. The agency’s latest Spring Outlook, released on March 20th, indicates that while some regions of the U.S. may see improvement, the Intermountain West, including Carbon County, face a high likelihood of worsening or continuing drought.
A storm-front is expected to form over the Great Plains in the near future, which may bring episodes of heavy precipitation to the Central Rockies. Despite the chance of some rain, the overall outlook appears like to remain warm and dry through spring.
Wyoming Basin and Water Supply Outlook Report, released on March 1 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, shows that the North Platte Basin, which feeds the North Platte River, recorded the 4th‑lowest snow-pack since 1936. On average, the snow water equivalent across the state stands at 76 percent of normal.
From April through June, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a 40 to 50 percent probability of below‑average rainfall and snow-pack for Carbon County, with above‑normal temperatures expected across most of the state. Due to the lack of precipitation, flows in the Little Snake River Basin are currently forecast at only 46 percent of average, while the North Platte Basin is at 52 percent.
Last month, Carbon County’s two largest reservoirs, Seminoe and Pathfinder, were reported to be at roughly 32 percent of their total capacity. Downstream from Seminoe, Kortes Reservoir is full, since it is kept at a nearly constant level for hydroelectric power generation.
The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center is forecasting higher‑than‑average temperatures and below‑normal precipitation across the West, with drought conditions expected to continue through most of Wyoming.
With dry conditions and high winds persisting, the National Weather Service in Cheyenne issued red flag warnings for most of Carbon County on Monday.
