Snowmelt Expected to Begin This Weekend
Written by Andrew-Rossi on May 5, 2017
Rising temperatures and forecast precipitation this weekend means that snowmelt will start in earnest – and with snowpack levels in this region sitting well above normal, that will impact residents in several ways.
Expected snowmelt could result in flooding in low lying areas in western and central Wyoming this weekend, according to Tim Troutman with the National Weather Service. He says risk for flooding gets higher as we go into next week, due to the increasing potential for heavy rainfall from west to east across the state.
Heavy precipitation and snowmelt have already damaged roads crossing public lands in the region.
Kim Liebhauser with the Bureau of Land Management’s Wind River/Bighorn Basin District, said it’s better to wait for the roads to dry up before accessing public roads for shed hunting and other activities at this time of year.
The Shoshone National Forest reports that several roads on the Clarks Fork, Wapiti and Greybull Ranger Districts that were scheduled to open May 1 will remain closed until further notice due to large snow drifts, very wet road surfaces, and the potential for resource damage. Those roads include Bald Ridge, Russell Creek, Brown Creek, Dick Creek, Timber Creek Cutoff and Elk Fork.
