According to the Wyoming State Climatologist (Jan Curtis):

• as of early February, all of Wyoming was in a drought status of drought warning
• by early March, the snow water equivalent continued below average in all regions of the state
• water year to date precipitation (October 1, 2002-March 4, 2003) varied across the state, with some areas receiving less than 40% of normal (map provided courtesy of the High Plains Regional Climate Center)
• long-term moisture shortages were severe in some areas, with parts of southwestern Wyoming receiving less than 60% of the normal precipitation accumulated over the last 3 years (map provided courtesy of the High Plains Regional Climate Center)

The following February 2003 preliminary Wyoming Monthly Climatology Report is available from: http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/wsc/monthsum/2003Feb/2003Feb_summary.html

                   Wyoming Monthly Climatology
                          February 2003
        Prepared by the Wyoming State Climatologist Office

Statewide Summary

February temperatures generally ranged from 4F to 8F below normal
with slightly warmer conditions along the eastern border of Wyoming.
Precipitation ranged from 54 percent of normal in Laramie to
324 percent of normal in Worland.  The statewide drought is
basically unchanged from last month despite much greater than
normal precipitation across most of the state.

Cheyenne

The average temperature in February was 24.9F.  This is 3.9F colder
than normal.   The maximum for the month was 65F on the 1st (record
for the day) and the minimum of -13F occurred on the 24th (record
for the day).   Precipitation total of 0.29 inch is 66 percent of
normal.  Snowfall totaled 8.4 inches which is 120 percent of the
long term average.

Laramie

The average temperature in February was 18.7F.  This is 4.7F colder
than normal.  The maximum for the month was 59F on the 1st (record
for the day) and the minimum for the month was -27F that occurred on
the 7th (record for the day).   Another record low of -24F was set on
the 24th.  Precipitation total of 0.25 inch is 54 percent of normal.
Snowfall totaled 7.6 inches which is 148 percent of the long term
average.

Rawlins

The average temperature in February was 21.0F.  This is 5.1F colder
than normal.  The maximum temperature for the month was 55F on the
1st (record for the day) and the minimum temperature for the month
of -22F occurred on the 24th (record for the day).  Precipitation
total of 0.47 inch is 90 percent of normal.   Snowfall totaled 11.5
inches which is 157 percent of normal.

Rock Springs

The average temperature in February was 23.4F.  This is 0.7F warmer
than normal.  The maximum temperature for the month was 58F on the
1st (record for the day) and the minimum of 9F occurred on the 24th.
Precipitation total of 0.35 inch is 67 percent of normal.  Snowfall
totaled 7.9 inches which is 134 percent of the long term average.

Evanston

The average temperature in February was 18.9F. This is 4.0F colder
than normal.  The maximum temperature for the month was 48F on the
28th and the minimum of -15F occurred on the 7th.  A record high
temperature of 47F was set on the 1st.   Precipitation total of 1.57
inches is 253 percent of normal and is the 16th wettest February
since 1899.  Snowfall totaled 27.2 inches which is 277 percent of
the long term average (2nd greatest February total since 1899).

Big Piney

The average temperature in February was 11.4F.  This is 3.2F colder
than normal.  The maximum temperature for the month was 50F on the
1st (record for the day) and the minimum of -17F occurred on the 5th.
Precipitation total of 0.66 inch is 194 percent of normal and is the
5th wettest February since 1949.  Snowfall totaled 8.2 inches which
is 195 percent of the long term average.

Lander

The average temperature in February was 18.0F. This is 7.6F colder
than normal and is the 5th coldest February since 1949.  The maximum
temperature for the month was 59F on the 1st (record for the day) and
the minimum for the month of -16F occurred on the 24th  (record for
the day).  Another record low was tied at -8F on the 23rd.
Precipitation total of 1.10 inches is 204 percent of normal and
represents the 9th wettest February since 1949.  Snowfall totaled
21.6 inches which is 200 percent of the long term average.

Riverton

The average temperature in February was 16.4F.  This is 5.7F colder
than normal.  The maximum temperature for the month was 57F on the
1st and the minimum for the month of -20F occurred on the 24th
(tied for record low for the day).  Precipitation total of 0.40 inch
is 160 percent of normal.  Snowfall totaled 13.4 inches which is
344 percent of the long term average and represents the 4th greatest
February total since 1919.

Worland

The average temperature in February was 19.5F.  This is 6.5F colder
than normal.  The maximum temperature for the month was 49F on the
1st, and the minimum of -30F occurred on the 24th (record for the
day).  Other record low temperature occurred on the 23rd (-21F),
25th (-25F), and 26th (-16F).  Precipitation total of 0.85 inch is
324 percent of normal represents the wettest February since 1961.
Snowfall totaled 13.7 inches which is 428 percent of the long term
average (greatest total since 1961).

Sheridan

The average temperature in February was 21.7F.  This is 5.2F colder
than normal.  The maximum temperature for the month was 54F on the
1st and the minimum for the month of -20F occurred on the 24th
(record for the day).  Other record low temperatures occurred on
23rd (-18F), and 25th (-10F).  Precipitation total of 0.50 inch is
88 percent of normal.  Snowfall totaled 17.3 inches which is 165
percent of the long term average.

Casper

The average temperature in February was 22.2F and is 4.5F colder
than normal.  The maximum temperature for the month was 61F on the
1st (record for the day) and the minimum for the month of -30F
occurred on the 24th (record for the day).  Another record low of
-21F occurred on the 23rd.  Precipitation total of 0.50 inch is
78 percent of normal.  Snowfall totaled 9.2 inches which is
91 percent of the long term average.

Torrington

The average temperature in February was 28.1F.  This is 1.9F
colder than normal.  The maximum temperature for the month was
71F on the 1st (record for the day) and the minimum for the
 month of -19F occurred on the 24th (record for the day).
Precipitation total of 0.37 inch is 92 percent of normal.
Snowfall totaled 7.3 inches which is 149 percent of the long
term average.

As noted in the March 3, 2003, Wyoming Crop and Weather Report (WY-CW080):

As of March 2, only 16 percent of the State had adequate topsoil
moisture, one point higher than last month but well below the 5-year
average of 44 percent adequate or surplus.  Northwestern counties
reported over 50 percent adequate topsoil moisture supplies for
February.  Twenty-seven percent was rated very short, compared with
the average of 14 percent for this date.  At week's end, subsoil
moisture conditions were rated short or very short in 91 percent of
the State, 3 points above last month but still well above the 5-year
average of 58 percent. Subsoil moisture was over 30 percent adequate
in the western counties.

Soil Moisture Table
______________________________________________
           TOPSOIL             SUBSOIL
     This   Last   5-yr   This   Last   5-yr
     Week   Year   Avg    Week   Year   Avg
______________________________________________
Very
Short  27    50     14     43     58     18
Short  57    39     42     48     33     40
Adeq   16    11     41      9      9     42
Surp    0     0      3      0      0      0
______________________________________________

Field Crops Report: With only 24 percent rated good, winter wheat
condition declined 3 points from last month. Almost half of the
remaining crop is in fair condition. Moderate to severe wind damage
was reported on 45 percent of the crop, 12 points more than last
month.  The counties reporting the most severe wind damage were
located in the southeast part of the State. Twenty percent of the
acreage had light to moderate freeze damage.

Crop Condition Table
______________________________________________
ITEM       V POOR   POOR   FAIR   GOOD   EXCEL
______________________________________________
                         Percent
Winter Wheat   3     25     48     24      0
______________________________________________

Livestock, Pasture, and Range Report: At month's end, spring grazing
prospects were rated good in only 5 percent of the State.  About half
of the State had poor to very poor spring grazing prospects.  Above
normal spring rains are needed to improve grazing prospects. Fifty-
four percent of the cattle and 48 percent of the sheep were rated in
good condition at week's end, slightly lower than January.  Most of
the remaining stock was rated in fair condition. Spring calving was 16
percent complete at the end of the month, behind the 5-year average of
23 percent for this date. Calf losses were about two-thirds of normal
and one-third light. Farm flock lambing was 28 percent complete for
the end of the month, near the 5-year average of 29 percent.  Lamb
losses were about three-quarters of normal and one-quarter light.
Farm flock shearing was ahead of the 5-year average at 37 percent
complete.  Hay and roughage supplies were adequate in only 46 percent
of the State, 7 points higher than last month, as compared with the 5-
year average of 73 percent adequate or surplus for this date.

Livestock Progress Table
______________________________________________
                     This     Last     5-yr
                     Week     Year     Avg
______________________________________________

Spring Calves Born    16       23       23
Ewes Lambed
  Farm Flock          28       30       29
Sheep Shorn
  Farm Flock          37       34       30
______________________________________________