May 22, 2024 |
Photo – Spring runoff causes high water in Wyoming’s rivers – Courtesy NWS
Outdoor adventurers are urged to use caution on Wyoming waterways from now through Memorial Day Weekend.
The Green River will be running cold, high and swift, according to officials.
Mike Callahan, civil engineer of the River Operations Group for the Bureau of Reclamation Upper Colorado Region, reports that the current conditions on the Green River can overcome even the strongest swimmer very quickly, providing very little time to react. Recreationists should take caution and be aware of the potential dangers associated with the increased flows.
Here in Carbon County, the ten-day forecast for the North Platte at Saratoga indicates the river will stay below action stage of 7.5 feet through May 30th, a week from tomorrow. Then the river could begin to rise to around 6,500 cubic feet per second through town, according to the outlook.
All in all, it looks like a fun and manageable holiday weekend in southern Wyoming.
Meanwhile, if you have travel plans for Yellowstone National Park over the holiday break, cold, wet weather from the Pacific Northwest will mean spell ice-covered roads and below freezing temperatures in Yellowstone National Park through Memorial Day Weekend—traditionally one of the biggest draws of year for the park.
Much of northern Wyoming could see snow this weekend. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the Bighorn Mountains with as much as 6 to 9 inches of snow, impacting travel on the Powder River and Granite Passes, which recently reopened for the season.
As much as seven inches of snow could fall in Shoshone National Forest and the eastern edge of Yellowstone National Park where a winter weather advisory is in effect.
Saratoga is looking great by comparison!
