Strong winds deplete soil moisture in some areas

Wyoming experienced near normal temperatures for the week ending April 22, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mountain Regional Field Office, Wyoming. Fifteen of the 34 reporting stations reported above average temperatures for the week with the high temperature of 79 degrees recorded at Greybull and a low of 6 degrees at Big Piney. Below normal moisture was reported at 29 of the 34 reporting stations with six stations reporting no precipitation. Natrona reported the most moisture with 0.62 inches. A reporter from North Central Wyoming indicated that they got more sunshine this past week, which allowed for more fieldwork. A reporter from Northeastern Wyoming reported that the strong winds have depleted the soil moisture. A reporter from Western Wyoming stated that the fair weather at the end of the week enabled producers to get into the fields. A reporter from Southeastern Wyoming noted that spring range and pasture growth has been slow and while annual precipitation has been above average, April has been dry.