July 2013 has a good start on Precipitation across Wyoming

July 2013 has a good start on Precipitation across Wyoming

After a very dry June, July is showing encouraging signs for the Cowboy state.  There were several days when much of the state, including Star Valley received beneficial showers. While drier air has returned, this should only be temporary as a new surge of Monsoon moisture is now moving northward into the Southwestern Deserts.

The following 500 mb charts, mid day on tuesday and then again on friday, show the increasing southwesterly flow which will transport moisture back into Wyoming later this week.
500 mb analysis Tuesday July 9, 2013

500 mb forecast Friday July12, 2013

The following two charts depict the precipitable water in the atmosphere both for Tuesday and the forecast for Friday,
Precipitable water in inches Tuesday July 9 2013

Precipitable water forecast in inches for Friday July 12 2013

Thus after a couple warm and dry days, moisture and the increase in thunderstorms should certainly be back into Wyoming by Friday, and possibly later Thursday.
The following was a summary of the first round of Monsoon rains across the Cowboy state issued by the Riverton WFO.

UPDATED (7/9): Early start to Monsoon brings welcome rain back to Cowboy State

The monsoon season got off to an early start this year, as abundant moisture and instability were in place across Wyoming this week. This provided the needed ingredients, as weak shortwaves rotated around a high pressure center located near the Four Corners, for much needed thunderstorms to form across the area. Some of the thunderstorm activity was widespread across the forecast area for western & central Wyoming, with some storms becoming severe. These storms produced severe hail and in some cases brief heavy rain.  This event is much needed, as noted in the recent climate summary. Many locations have received much below normal precipitation since June 1 and this event will help against these deficits.  So far, only Casper has risen above normal for the year (as well as through June 1). All other locations are well below normal for the year (Lander is near normal for the year, but well below normal since June 1). Below are rainfall totals from Wednesday through Monday.

Click on image to enlarge

Rainfall Totals thru 7/8

County Station Name Rainfall
Big Horn 2 SSW Lovell 1.78
Big Horn Greybull ASOS 0.25
Big Horn Greybull 0.09
Big Horn Shell 0.09
Fremont 10 WNW Dubois 1.15
Fremont 4 ENE South Pass City 0.50
Fremont Dubois 0.44
Fremont Burris 0.30
Fremont Riverton ASOS 0.27
Fremont Riverton 0.25
Fremont 6 SW Lander 0.21
Fremont 16 WNW Kinnear 0.20
Fremont Boysen Dam 0.18
Fremont Lander ASOS 0.18
Fremont Jeffrey City 0.14
Fremont 6 SE Lander 0.08
Fremont 1 SW Lander 0.07
Fremont 2 SSW Arapahoe 0.06
Fremont Lander 0.04
Fremont 1 WSW Lander 0.02
Fremont 2 NNE Lander 0.02
Fremont 34 SE Lander 0.02
Fremont 9 SSE Lander 0.02
Hot Springs 11 N Thermopolis 1.00
Hot Springs 9 NE Thermopolis 0.33
Hot Springs 1 SW Thermopolis 0.22
Hot Springs Thermopolis 0.13
Johnson 17 NNW Kaycee 0.87
Johnson Buffalo 0.68
Johnson 17 E Kaycee 0.61
Johnson 20 S Buffalo 0.39
Johnson Buffalo 0.38
Johnson 7 NE Buffalo 0.02
Lincoln 5 NNE Thayne 0.76
Lincoln Star Valley Ranch 0.73
Lincoln Afton 0.71
Lincoln 3 SE Bedford 0.69
Lincoln 2 SE Thayne 0.68
Lincoln 5 SSE Smoot 0.54
Lincoln 21 NNW Kemmerer 0.34
Lincoln Fossil Butte 0.15
Natrona Casper ASOS 1.26
Natrona Midwest 0.73
Natrona 4 SW Casper 0.66
Natrona Casper 0.65
Natrona 11 WSW Casper 0.52
Natrona 11 ESE Casper 0.50
Natrona 10 WSW Casper 0.44
Natrona 4 WSW Casper 0.39
Natrona Casper 0.37
Natrona 1 WSW Casper 0.36
Natrona 6 S Casper 0.35
Natrona 1 SW Casper 0.32
Natrona 9 E Casper 0.31
Natrona Casper 0.28
Natrona 2 S Casper 0.22
Natrona 4 WSW Casper 0.13
Natrona Powder River School 0.04
Park 3 NE Clark 1.21
Park Crandall Creek 1.14
Park Meeteetse 1.09
Park 4 ENE Powell 1.09
Park 4 SW Powell 1.06
Park 3 NE Sunshine 0.99
Park Pahaska 0.89
Park 3 N Powell 0.69
Park 1 W Powell 0.66
Park 4 SE Cody 0.33
Park 2 WSW Cody 0.33
Park 5 ESE Cody 0.28
Park 7 SW Cody 0.25
Park 1 ESE Cody 0.20
Park 1 E Cody 0.16
Sublette 13 SE Pinedale 1.32
Sublette Pinedale 0.90
Sublette Bondurant 0.83
Sublette 14 NW Pinedale 0.61
Sublette Daniel Fish Hatchery 0.36
Sublette Big Piney ASOS 0.36
Sublette Boulder Rearing Station 0.21
Sweetwater 7 SE Rock Springs 0.43
Sweetwater 1 NW Granger 0.32
Sweetwater 1 W Rock Springs 0.17
Sweetwater 38 NW Superior 0.16
Sweetwater 5 N Farson 0.11
Sweetwater 1 S Rock Springs 0.11
Sweetwater 1 E Rock Springs 0.09
Sweetwater Wamsutter 0.08
Sweetwater 8 NNW Rock Springs 0.02
Sweetwater Green River 0.02
Teton Darwin Ranch 1.16
Teton Hoback Junction 0.90
Teton 2 NE Teton Village 0.79
Teton Moose 0.64
Teton Moose 0.60
Teton 4 SSW Jackson 0.55
Teton 5 NW Jackson 0.45
Teton 3 SSW Wilson 0.42
Teton Jackson 0.38
Teton 12 NE Jackson 0.32
Teton 5 WNW Moran 0.14
Teton 1 NNW Alta 0.11
Washakie 4 NE Ten Sleep 0.23
Washakie 27 S Ten Sleep 0.20
Washakie 5 NNW Ten Sleep 0.15
Washakie Worland ASOS 0.12
Washakie Ten Sleep 0.11
Washakie Worland 0.07
Washakie 16 SSE Ten Sleep 0.06
Washakie 1 W Worland 0.05
Washakie 8 SW Worland 0.04
Yellowstone Lamar Ranger Station 0.96
Yellowstone Tower Falls Ranger Station 0.93
Yellowstone Lake Yellowstone ASOS 0.83
Yellowstone Snake River Ranger Station 0.77
Yellowstone Yellowstone Mammoth 0.76
Yellowstone Yellowstone East Entrance 0.56
Yellowstone Old Faithful Ranger Station 0.35