Be thankful for the snow

Cynthia Sheeley
Posted 3/8/23

As winter comes closer to an end, many have complained about the ongoing winter storms and weather that continue to plague us. There have been occasions where it has seemed that we have been doing nothing but counting the days between snowstorms. It seems, if it does get warm enough to melt off some of the snow, it isn’t long before the next storm hits us.

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Be thankful for the snow

Posted

As winter comes closer to an end, many have complained about the ongoing winter storms and weather that continue to plague us. There have been occasions where it has seemed that we have been doing nothing but counting the days between snowstorms. It seems, if it does get warm enough to melt off some of the snow, it isn’t long before the next storm hits us. 

This year has been hard on us all. We have had many large storms that impacted us with their snow, wind and dangerously freezing temperatures. Throughout the town, there are many places where there are still large mounds of snow that have only seemed to grow as time passes. 

We all know that Wyoming has a reputation for having long and brutal winters. For the majority of us, this is nothing new. However, this knowledge does nothing to help us overcome the continual onslaught of bad weather. It is only natural for people to begin to feel stir-crazy and to crave sunshine and warmer conditions.

As we get closer to spring, there is the reality that this weather will probably not end. Just as Wyoming is known for her winters, she is also known for just as drastic springs during wet years. Judging by our winter and the predictions of Meteorologist Don Day, our spring will most likely be cold and wet. 

This is also nothing new to us. There is even an ongoing joke in my family that says, “In other places, April showers bring May flowers. In Wyoming, April showers bring snow plowers.” 

While all of this can seem like a lot, and like we are stuck in the winter that will never end, it is important for us to remember that this is a good thing. The more snow that falls, especially in the mountains, the more water we will have this season. 

According to Wyoming’s water resources on http://library.wrds.uwyo.edu/, “Approximately 70 percent of Wyoming’s surface water supply comes in the form of snow.”

If we do not get adequate snowpack for the year, we have less water to support our state’s consumptive uses, these include farming and ranching.

Our area has been hit hard with drought the last couple of years. As a result, our agricultural industry has been hurting a lot. Farmers have had limited water for their crops and there has been less grass available in pastures for ranchers’ livestock. 

According to Wyoming’s weekly snow report dated March 6, 2023, on http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/, “Currently, the state’s SNOTELs (Snowpack Telemetry) are reading 116% of the median with a basin high of 149%. Last year the state was at 85% and at 91% in 2021.”

Even if they’re not in the agriculture industry, everyone is affected by drought. Drought affects the production of crops, which in turn can affect the prices of foods in grocery stores. Even though it can be hard sometimes, be thankful for the much-needed moisture.

Winter and spring will be over before you know it, and everyone will be complaining about the heat.