CHEYENNE, Wyo. – An unseasonable winter storm moved through the Wyo-Braska region this week, bringing heavy, wet snow to already moisture-saturated areas.

“We had a system come through, a very winter-like system, for sure,” said Crystal Worley, meteorologist with the National Weather Service forecast center in Cheyenne. “It brought some cold air, lots of moisture. It was just a really good setup for us to get snow.”

While it’s not uncommon for the region to have snow events during May, what is unusual was how late in the month it came, Worley said. At the forecast office, located at the Cheyenne Airport, meteorologists recorded 8.5-inches of snow during the recent storm.

Moving forward, look for continued below-average temperatures and above-average precipitation on the long-range forecast, Worley said. Where temperatures just a couple weeks ago were in the 80s for much of the region, highs in the upper 60s to mid-70s should be the norm for much of the area, beginning this weekend and continuing into next week and beyond.

“We’re having quite a sharp change from a few weeks ago,” Worley said. “And, getting into the end of May and into June, there’s the potential for thunderstorms. It’s going to be a very active pattern with lots more chances for rain.”

Last year at this time was a very different story, with much of the region reporting dry, near-drought conditions, she said. While the additional moisture is usually a welcome spring addition, not being able to get in the fields has ag experts and producers alike wondering what the future bodes for the 2019 growing season. It could mean good news, though, in terms of a potentially shorter fire-weather season, Worley said.

“We’ve got lots of moisture through the winter,” she said. “We’re just continuing to get more.”

In Wyoming, scattered rain and snow showers were reported across much of the state last week during the week ending May 19, according to the weekly Crop and Weather Report from the USDA Agriculture Statistics Service Mountain Regional Field Office in Cheyenne. Moisture levels dropped slightly in parts of the state, remaining in the mostly adequate to surplus range from the previous week, better than last year at this time. There were just 4 days suitable for working in the fields during the period.

Producers in western parts of the state reported a dusting of snow, with some areas receiving more. The wet, colder weather impacted lambing activities and field work was halted to wait for warmer, dryer weather.

Southeastern Wyoming producers took advantage of the dryer weather in advance of the storm system to get most of the region’s corn planted, but cooler conditions persisted, with hay and pasture growth lagging behind. 

Again, the U.S. Drought Monitor, as of May 14, showed good moisture levels across most of the state, with the continued exception of north-central and southwestern portions of the state which persist in reporting abnormally dry conditions. Irrigation water supplies across the state were rated 96 percent good to excellent and stock water supplies ranked 95 percent in the good to excellent range.

For much of Nebraska, there were 5 days on average suitable for working in the fields in Lincoln. 

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 5 short, 80 adequate, and 15 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 4 short, 81 adequate, and 15 surplus.

Corn planted was 70 percent, behind 86 both last year and for the five-year average. Emerged was 27 percent, well behind 49 both last year and average.

Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 26 fair, 57 good, and 12 excellent. Winter wheat headed was 8 percent, near 4 last year, but behind 27 average. Sorghum planted was 18 percent, behind 29 last year and 28 average.

Oats planted was 90 percent, near 94 last year, and behind 97 average. Emerged was 67 percent, behind 84 last year, and well behind 91 average.

Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 19 fair, 68 good, and 10 excellent.

It was a very different story for much of Colorado, where producers averaged more than 6 days suitable for field work on the period, according to the NASS field office in Lakewood, Colo. Warmer, dryer conditions advanced both planting activities, and emergence on crops already in the ground.

Contrasting points north, a lack of moisture was a primary concern for some areas. Northwestern area reporters noted alfalfa conditions were negatively impacted due to pocket gopher activity in field.

Isolated severe weather and damaging hail were reported in northeastern portions of the state. And, while planting and emergence did pick up in some areas, dry fields with uneven emergence was reported in areas where moisture was absent.

Lack of moisture and its effect on rangeland was also a concern. East central county reporters noted mid-week heat exacerbated locally dry areas. Concerns regarding inadequate moisture for winter wheat and rangeland grass growth were also reported. 

In the San Luis Valley, fall potato planting advanced and barley planting was virtually finished, with potato emergence in some areas slowed by cold soil temperatures. A reporter noted barley was doing well but growers had issues applying fertilizer around adverse weather. 

In southeastern counties, reporters noted crop conditions declined due to warm, windy weather. Moisture was greatly needed to maintain winter wheat condition. Alfalfa weevil pressure in non-irrigated fields was noted with some producers spraying to mitigate. 

As of May 20, snowpack in Colorado was 186 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. The Southwest and San Luis Valley were 294 and 247 percent, respectively. Stored feed supplies were rated 6 percent very short, 20 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Sheep death loss was 86 percent average and 14 percent light. Cattle death loss was 3 percent heavy, 87 percent average, and 10 percent light.