Snow pack approaching normal levels

By AP

Cody, WY – Wyoming's mountain ranges now have more snow on them than they've had in the past several years of drought.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says snowpack averages across Wyoming were 95 percent of the 30-year average during January and early February.

The mountains around the Wind River drainage picked up a good deal of extra snow. Snowpack in those mountain ranges increased from 80 percent of average in early January to 96 percent of average by mid-February.

Jim Fahey, a NOAA hydrologist for Wyoming, says at least three months remain before the spring runoff season begins. He says the long range temperature outlook calls for a 30-40 percent chance of a warmer than normal spring.