After so much heat and so little water, Bighorn Basin residents should brace for a new onslaught of weather this week – monsoons and flash floods.
With drought conditions persisting throughout Wyoming, the Bighorn Basin will be getting a reprieve this week. But, unfortunately, forecasts suggest it might be too much of a good thing.
The National Weather Service Office in Riverton is alerting residents of central and western Wyoming of the impending rain expected on Wednesday and Thursday. The conditions are being described as “monsoonal moisture.”
According to the NWS, there are “increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms later this week as monsoonal moisture overspreads western and central Wyoming. The main hazard locally will be very heavy rainfall.”
Bighorn Basin residents should brace themselves for extremely wet weather later this week – it could easily get dangerous.
As of Monday, July 26, the forecast for Cody calls for a 30% chance of showers on Wednesday night. Thursday has a 60% chance of precipitation, including isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Worland’s forecast is similar – temperatures in the high eighties with a 60% chance of showers and strong breezes all day Thursday.
There are no hazardous weather outlooks for the rain showers later this week. Nevertheless, heavy rainfall can easily lead to flash flooding without much notice.
The Park County Sheriff’s Office shared the National Weather Service’s weather update at the request of Jack Tatum, director of the Park County Office of Homeland Security.
Until the skies open up, residents of northwest Wyoming have other concerns to worry about, mainly smoky skies and the ongoing risk of dangerous wildfires.
Both a Hazardous Weather Outlook and an Air Quality Alert were in effect across the Bighorn Basin on Monday, July 26. Both hazardous weather conditions have been in effect for most of July due to persistent drought conditions and smoke from various wildfires.
In addition, a Special Weather Statement was issued for the sweltering temperatures across the region, anywhere from 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
