Wyoming’s Natural History of Drought

Yes, it is very hot in Wyoming and the rest of the West. Also, dry. This round has been a serious drought. Those who have been around long enough have seen this before. Times like these are something Western states have to endure from time to time.

Let's open the record books and have a look at the worst Wyoming droughts in recorded history. The following is from Wyoming state climate records.

One obvious historic event was the 1930s Dust Bowl, the 1950s multi-year dry spell, and the devastating 1886 drought.

More recently, we have endured multi-year record-low snowpack and drought conditions across agricultural lands and major river basins.

1999–2002: Is considered to be the most severe statewide drought. It decimated agriculture, caused widespread grazing shortages, and brought consecutive years of record-low precipitation.

1950s: A severe, prolonged multi-year drought that heavily impacted climate divisions across the Lower North Platte and Wind River basins, causing major water deficits.

1886: Brought a drought that ended the open-range cattle era. It was just too dry out there for cattle.

These recent years we have had a historic collapse in statewide snow water equivalent (with meltout arriving roughly 35 days earlier than average). This has left the state's hay and pasture lands seriously dry.

BUT HOLD ON! Let's go back even further. WAY BACK!

The never-ending natural climate change and cycles of this planet show us that nothing ever stays the same. As humans, we must adapt.

Wyoming used to be completely underwater as part of a shallow sea that stretched from the Gulf of America all the way up to the Arctic. The Arctic was ice-free at the time.

Wyoming has been a swamp, like the Everglades.

Wyoming has been under a mile of ice, more than once.

Millions of years ago, much of the western United States was covered by vast, subtropical lakes and shifting coastal sands. Yes, much of Wyoming was covered in sand dunes. During 20,000 years, prevailing westerly winds eroded ancient sandstones and glacial deposits.

Hot and dry times come and go. Nobody likes them, but it is part of our natural Western weather cycles, whether we like it or not.