Preliminary
Wyoming Monthly Climatology
October 2004

Statewide Summary

During the month of October, temperatures were 4°F above normal over extreme NE Wyoming and 2°F below normal scattered across regions of the state. Precipitation was general well above normal over the southern half and extreme western regions of the state while below normal amounts occurred over several north central counties. The area over northeastern Wyoming continued to be extremely dry. Torrington, over SE Wyoming, has shown slow moisture recovery above the 20 inch depth level during the past month. Rain and snow improved moisture supplies for the second week in a row. As of October 30, 57 percent of the State had adequate or surplus topsoil moisture, up 13 points from the past week. This the highest level of topsoil moisture since summer 2003. Subsoil moisture supplies were adequate or surplus in 40 percent of the State, up 14 points from two weeks earlier. This is far better than both last year at this time when only 15 percent was adequate and the average of 24 percent adequate. However, the impact for Wyoming's multi-year hydrological drought continues with only slow improvement over the western slope and extreme SE region of the state.

Weather Summary: For the week ending Friday, October 1, temperatures averaged mostly above normal except in some mostly Southeastern areas. Temperatures ranged from 2.1 degrees below normal in Wheatland to 6.6 degrees above normal in Jackson. The highest temperature was 83 degrees in Newcastle, while the lowest temperature was 20 degrees in Recluse. Significant precipitation was reported with most areas, except the Northeast, receiving above normal amounts. The most precipitation fell in Chugwater with 1.95 inches, Kaycee with 1.33 inches, and Wheatland with 1.20 inches.

Weather Summary: For the week ending Friday, October 8, temperatures averaged above normal across nearly the entire state. Temperatures ranged from 0.7 degrees below normal in Archer to 7.6 degrees above normal in Cody. The highest temperature was 79 degrees in Sundance, while the lowest temperature was 24 degrees in Big Piney. No significant precipitation was reported except in a few areas in the Southeast. The most precipitation fell in Cheyenne with 0.33 inches and Archer and Laramie with 0.29 inches. Most areas of the state received a trace or no precipitation.

Weather Summary: For the week ending Friday, October 15, temperatures averaged mostly above normal. Temperatures ranged from 2.8 degrees below normal in Wheatland to 7.4 degrees above normal in Jackson. The highest temperature was 84 degrees in Greybull, while the lowest temperature was 22 degrees in Recluse. Most areas received some rain or snow with amounts generally under a half inch. The most precipitation fell in Recluse with 1.05 inches and Kaycee with 0.85 inch.

On October 19-20th a strong mid-October storm system pushed slowly onto the west coast on Tuesday and into the intermountain west by Tuesday night. Snow developed across the western Wyoming mountains, generally above 9500 ft on Tuesday night and continued sporadically through the day Wednesday, before tapering off Wednesday night. In elevations between 7500 ft and 9500 ft, a combination of rain and heavy wet snow fell throughout the period. In area basins (including the lower Green River Basin, southernmost Lincoln county, and the Star Valley) precipitation fell in the form of rain. The only outlier to the preceding conditions occurred in the Jackson Valley, where temperatures remained cool enough for snow to fall into elevations below 7500 ft. Since temperatures generally hovered at freezing or slightly above, the following snowfall amounts were estimated using precipitation amounts.

Weather Summary: For the week ending Friday, October 22, temperatures averaged mostly above normal in the south and below normal in the north. Temperatures ranged from 2.1 degrees below normal in Evanston to 5.4 degrees above normal in Laramie. The highest temperature was 74 degrees in Archer, while the lowest temperature was 22 degrees in Big Piney. Most areas received a trace or more of rain or snow with many Western areas receiving over an inch. Heavy snow fell in the western mountains. The most precipitation fell in Jackson with 1.68 inches and Evanston with 1.55 inch.

Weather Summary: For the week ending Friday, October 29, temperatures averaged mostly above normal with a few western areas having below normal amounts. Temperatures ranged from 5.4 degrees below normal in Evanston to 4.5 degrees above normal in Redbird. The highest temperature was 72 degrees in Newcastle, while the lowest temperature was 20 degrees in Deaver and Powell. A trace or more of precipitation was reported throughout the State with western and northeastern areas having above normal amounts. The most precipitation fell in Recluse with 0.93 inch, Afton with 0.84 inch, and Rock Springs with 0.80 inch. Wintery weather over the weekend brought colder temperatures and rain or snow to much of Wyoming.

Cheyenne

The average temperature in October was 48.00°F. This is 2.6°F above normal for the month. The maximum temperature for the month was 72°F on the 16th and the minimum of 26°F occurred on the 31st. On 25 October, Cheyenne reached its first 32°F or colder reading. This marked the 2nd latest freezing date in Cheyenne's recorded history! Precipitation total of 0.64 inch is 85 percent of normal. For the year thru 29 October, Cheyenne is 3.97 inches below normal (72 percent of normal). Total snowfall was 1.4 inches which is 37 percent of the long term average.

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    Laramie

    The average temperature in October was 43.5°F. This is 1.6°F warmer than normal. The maximum temperature for the month was 67°F on the 9th and the minimum for the month was 22°F occurring on the 31st. Precipitation total of 0.62 inch is 78 percent of normal. For the year thru 29 October, Laramie is 0.79 inch above normal (108 percent of normal). Total snowfall was 1.1 inches which is 30 percent of the long term average.

    Rawlins

    The average temperature in October was 45.0°F. This is 0.5°F cooler than normal. The maximum temperature for the month was 70°F on the 9th and the minimum for the month was 18°F occurring on the 31st. Precipitation total of 0.81 inch is 94 percent of normal. For the year thru 29 October, Rawlins is 0.78 inch above normal (109 percent of normal). Total snowfall was 1.6 inches which is 47 percent of the long term average.

    Rock Springs

    The average temperature in October was 44.9°F. This is 1.4°F warmer than normal. The maximum temperature for the month was 70°F on the 9th and the minimum for the month was 21°F occurring on the 31st. Precipitation total of 2.38 inches is 274 percent of normal and represents the 2nd wettest October since 1948. For the year thru 29 October, Rock Springs is 0.58 inch above normal (107 percent of normal). Total snowfall was 8.5 inches while is 213 percent of the long term average.

    Evanston

    The average temperature in October was 42.8°F. This is 0.3°F warmer than normal. The maximum temperature for the month was 71°F on the 8th and 9th and the minimum for the month was 17°F occurring on the 31st. Precipitation total of 2.21 inches is 192 percent of normal. For the year thru 29 October, Uinta County airport is 0.53 inch below normal (95 percent of normal). Total snowfall was 11.6 inches which is 374 percent of the long term average and probably represents the 6th greatest October total since 1898. The snow record for Evanston is incomplete for several years.

    Big Piney

    The average temperature in October was 40.2°F. This is 2.0°F warmer than normal. The maximum temperature for the month was 70°F on the 9th and the minimum for the month was 15°F occurring on the 31st. Precipitation total of 1.49 inches is 253 percent of normal. For the year thru 29 October, Big Piney is 4.64 inches above normal (169 percent of normal). Total snowfall was 5.5 inches which is 263 percent of the long term average.

    Lander

    The average temperature in October was 46.8°F. This is 0.5°F warmer than normal. The maximum temperature for the month was 76°F on the 9th and the minimum for the month was 23°F occurring on the 31st. Precipitation total of 1.22 inches is 89 percent of normal. For the year thru 29 October, Lander is 1.42 inches above normal (112 percent of normal). Total snowfall was 9.7 inches which is 102 percent of the long term average.

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    Riverton

    The average temperature in October was 46.5°F. This is 1.7°F warmer than normal. The maximum temperature for the month was 77°F on the 9th and the minimum for the month of 21°F occurred on the 31st. Precipitation total of 0.55 inch is 68 percent of normal. For the year thru 29 October, Riverton is 0.40 inch above normal (105 percent of normal). Total snowfall was 2.8 inches which is 82 percent of the long term average.

    Worland

    The average temperature in October was 46.9°F. This is 1.6°F cooler than normal. The maximum temperature for the month was 82°F on the 9th and the minimum for the month of 22°F occurred on the 30th. Precipitation total of 0.19 inches is 32 percent of normal. For the year thru 29 October, Worland is 1.38 inches below normal (81 percent of normal). Total snowfall was 0.4 inch which is 19 percent of the long term average.

    Sheridan

    The average temperature in October was 46.7°F. This is 1.6°F warmer than normal. The maximum temperature for the month was 82°F on the 9th and the minimum for the month of 25°F occurred on the 24th, 25th, and 26th. Precipitation total of 1.05 inches is 74 percent of normal. For the year thru 29 October, Sheridan is 3.68 inches below normal (72 percent of normal). Total snowfall was 0.4 inch which is just 9 percent of the long term average. Since 1948, there have been 10 Octobers without any snowfall.

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    Casper

    The average temperature in October was 46.9°F. This is 1.2°F warmer than normal. The maximum temperature for the month was 77°F on the 9th and the minimum for the month of 22°F occurred on the 31st. Precipitation total of 0.92 inch is 81 percent of normal. For the year thru 29 October, Casper is 2.38 inches below normal (79 percent of normal). Total snowfall was 4.0 inches which is 63 percent of the long term average.

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    Douglas

    The average temperature in October was 47.7°F. This is 1.5°F warmer than normal. The maximum temperature for the month was 80°F on the 9th and the minimum for the month of 31°F occurred on the 31st. Precipitation total of 0.76 inch is 95 percent of normal. For the year thru 29 October, Douglas is 2.12 inches below normal (81 percent of normal).

    Torrington

    The average temperature in October was 50.0°F. This is 2.3°F warmer than normal. The maximum temperature for the month was 81°F on the 9th and the minimum for the month of 24°F occurred on the 30th. Precipitation total of 0.77 inch is 81 percent of normal. For the year thru 29 October, Torrington is 1.74 inches below normal (86 percent of normal). Total snowfall was 1.7 inches which is 100 percent of the long term average.

    Additional Stations:

    Buffalo
    Gillette
    Greybull

    This information was compiled by the Wyoming State Climatologist, University of Wyoming. For more information, contact Jan Curtis at (307) 766-6659. For periodic updates, visit http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu This site includes a searchable database for Wyoming climate and water. For additional daily and hourly climatology, click on historical at the bottom of the daily summary statistics. For Casper, Lander, and Riverton's Monthly F6 reports, see here and at the bottom of this webpage. Record daily temperatures are based on the period since 1948-9 for all cities unless otherwise noted.

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    Wyoming State Climatologist The Wyoming State Climatologist Office is funded by the Wyoming Water Development Commission

    WEBMASTER: stateclim@wrds.uwyo.edu
    Last reviewed or update: November 3, 2004

    		 Water Resources Data System