May 31, 2024 |
Photo – Flood Potential Table – Courtesy NWS Riverton
Minor flooding can still occur on the North Platte River at Saratoga and other spots in Carbon County, says the National Weather Service, but the threat of substantial flooding is unlikely to occur.
Each week, the Wyoming branch of the National Weather Service provides an outlook for spring and summer flood potentials in the state.
On Thursday afternoon, Meteorologist and Hydro Program Manager for the Riverton Office Celia Hensley said the National Weather Service used a variety of measurements to determine the likelihood of flooding.
Hensley said her weather models are not forecasting any significant rainfall in June. Along with minimal rain, Hensley said average temperatures are expected to continue climbing into the next month.
High temperatures can cause mountain snowpack to melt faster than expected. Hensley said heavy snowmelt can’t be ruled out for the Upper North Platte Basin.
Hensley said she is worried about the amount of snow still in the Sierra Madre and Snowy Range Mountains. The National Weather Service meteorologist said above 9,500 feet, both mountain ranges have the equivalent of 30 inches of water trapped in the snowpack.
With so much snow still in the mountains, Hensley said the North Platte River has a 50% chance of minor flooding this season.
The North Platte River is considered to be at minor flood stage when the water level is at 9.5 feet, or roughly three and a half feet above normal.
Hensley said increasingly hotter temperatures will continue to melt the mountain snowpack at a faster than average rate. While we are unlikely to see any major flooding along the North Platte River, a minor flood event can’t be ruled out.
The National Weather Service has scheduled one more flood outlook meeting. If nothing unexpected occurs, next week’s webinar will be the final session for the season.
