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Drought Conditions in Wyoming and Montana

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By Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center March 28, 2018

Big Sandy River near Farson, WY

September 5, 2002, 4.59 ft3/sec (mean = 28.3)

Little Medicine Bow River at Boles Spring near Medicine Bow, WY

August 13, 2002, 0.5 ft3/sec (mean = 8.6)

Dearborn River near Craig, MT

August of 2000

Jefferson River near Twin Bridges, MT

August of 2000

The USGS monitors drought conditions at more than 300 streamgages across Wyoming and Montana. Low-flow conditions are expressed as percentiles comparing current (within the past few hours) instantaneous flow to historical daily mean flow for all days of the year.

A percentile is a value on a scale of one hundred that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it.

  • “Low" indicates that the estimated streamflow is a new record low for this day of the year,
  • "<=5" indicates that the estimated streamflow is less than or to the 5th percentile for this day of the year,
  • "6-9" indicates that the estimated streamflow is between the 6th and 9th percentile for this day of the year, and
  • "10-24" indicates that the estimated streamflow is between the 10th and 24th percentile for this day of the year.

National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) goal is to improve the nation’s capacity to manage drought-related risks by providing the best available information and tools to assess the potential impacts of drought, and to prepare for and mitigate the effects of drought.

Wyoming DroughtWatch
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Average Streamflow Maps:

Wyoming:

 

 

 

 

Montana DroughtWatch
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Montana:

 

 

Below are data or web applications associated with drought in Wyoming and Montana.

Surface-water data for Wyoming

Real-time, daily, peak-flow, field measurements, and statistics of current and historical data that describe stream levels, streamflow (discharge), reservoir and lake levels, surface-water quality, and rainfall in Wyoming. Surface-water data are collected and stored as either discrete field-water-level measurements or as continuous time-series data from automated recorders.

By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Surface-water data for Montana

Real-time, daily, peak-flow, field measurements, and statistics of current and historical data that describe stream levels, streamflow (discharge), reservoir and lake levels, surface-water quality, and rainfall in Montana. Surface-water data are collected and stored as either discrete field-water-level measurements or as continuous time-series data from automated recorders.

By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Below are publications associated with drought in Wyoming and Montana.

Water-the Nation's Fundamental Climate Issue A White Paper on the U.S. Geological Survey Role and Capabilities

Of all the potential threats posed by climatic variability and change, those associated with water resources are arguably the most consequential for both society and the environment (Waggoner, 1990). Climatic effects on agriculture, aquatic ecosystems, energy, and industry are strongly influenced by climatic effects on water. Thus, understanding changes in the distribution, quantity and quality of
Authors
Harry F. Lins, Robert M. Hirsch, Julie Kiang
By
Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program

National water summary 1988–89 — Hydrologic events and floods and droughts

National Water Summary 1988-89 - Hydrologic Events and Floods and Droughts documents the occurrence in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands of two types of extreme hydrologic events floods and droughts on the basis of analysis of stream-discharge data. This report details, for the first time, the areal extent of the most notable floods and droughts in each State, portrays th
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Dakota Water Science Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Summary of floods and droughts in the United States

This paper describes a current national analysis of streamflow data being conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey to identify and map, in a consistent State-by-State format, the frequency and areal distribution of major floods and droughts in the United States. The work is being performed as the latest in a series of National Water Summaries published as Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers. The
Authors
Marshall E. Jennings, Richard W. Paulson

Low streamflow conditions in the western states during 1987

Drought conditions prevailed throughout the States of California , Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington during the summer of 1987. Streamflows were the lowest since the drought of 1977. Many streams had less discharge in August-September 1987 than in August-September of 1977. At some sites flows for July, August, and September were the minimum ever recorded for those months. The reason for the lo
Authors
L.L. Hubbard
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oregon Water Science Center

The USGS monitors drought conditions at more than 300 streamgages across Wyoming and Montana. Low-flow conditions are expressed as percentiles comparing current (within the past few hours) instantaneous flow to historical daily mean flow for all days of the year.

A percentile is a value on a scale of one hundred that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it.

  • “Low" indicates that the estimated streamflow is a new record low for this day of the year,
  • "<=5" indicates that the estimated streamflow is less than or to the 5th percentile for this day of the year,
  • "6-9" indicates that the estimated streamflow is between the 6th and 9th percentile for this day of the year, and
  • "10-24" indicates that the estimated streamflow is between the 10th and 24th percentile for this day of the year.

National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) goal is to improve the nation’s capacity to manage drought-related risks by providing the best available information and tools to assess the potential impacts of drought, and to prepare for and mitigate the effects of drought.

Wyoming DroughtWatch
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Average Streamflow Maps:

Wyoming:

 

 

 

 

Montana DroughtWatch
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Montana:

 

 

Below are data or web applications associated with drought in Wyoming and Montana.

Surface-water data for Wyoming

Real-time, daily, peak-flow, field measurements, and statistics of current and historical data that describe stream levels, streamflow (discharge), reservoir and lake levels, surface-water quality, and rainfall in Wyoming. Surface-water data are collected and stored as either discrete field-water-level measurements or as continuous time-series data from automated recorders.

By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Surface-water data for Montana

Real-time, daily, peak-flow, field measurements, and statistics of current and historical data that describe stream levels, streamflow (discharge), reservoir and lake levels, surface-water quality, and rainfall in Montana. Surface-water data are collected and stored as either discrete field-water-level measurements or as continuous time-series data from automated recorders.

By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Below are publications associated with drought in Wyoming and Montana.

Water-the Nation's Fundamental Climate Issue A White Paper on the U.S. Geological Survey Role and Capabilities

Of all the potential threats posed by climatic variability and change, those associated with water resources are arguably the most consequential for both society and the environment (Waggoner, 1990). Climatic effects on agriculture, aquatic ecosystems, energy, and industry are strongly influenced by climatic effects on water. Thus, understanding changes in the distribution, quantity and quality of
Authors
Harry F. Lins, Robert M. Hirsch, Julie Kiang
By
Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program

National water summary 1988–89 — Hydrologic events and floods and droughts

National Water Summary 1988-89 - Hydrologic Events and Floods and Droughts documents the occurrence in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands of two types of extreme hydrologic events floods and droughts on the basis of analysis of stream-discharge data. This report details, for the first time, the areal extent of the most notable floods and droughts in each State, portrays th
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Dakota Water Science Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Summary of floods and droughts in the United States

This paper describes a current national analysis of streamflow data being conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey to identify and map, in a consistent State-by-State format, the frequency and areal distribution of major floods and droughts in the United States. The work is being performed as the latest in a series of National Water Summaries published as Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers. The
Authors
Marshall E. Jennings, Richard W. Paulson

Low streamflow conditions in the western states during 1987

Drought conditions prevailed throughout the States of California , Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington during the summer of 1987. Streamflows were the lowest since the drought of 1977. Many streams had less discharge in August-September 1987 than in August-September of 1977. At some sites flows for July, August, and September were the minimum ever recorded for those months. The reason for the lo
Authors
L.L. Hubbard
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oregon Water Science Center
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