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Drought has persisted into the winter in Wyoming, leaving hay growers short on hay to sell and ranchers short on hay for their livestock. A hay grower in Powell in northern Wyoming said that he usually sells his hay in Canada and the East Coast, but the demand for hay locally was so high that he had none left to ship elsewhere. With higher demand, hay prices rose from $125-$150 per ton to $300 per ton. Wyoming Business Report (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Jan 31, 2022

Hay and roughage supplies for Wyoming were rated 36 percent very short, 34 percent short, and 30 percent adequate, compared to 15 percent very short, 47 percent short, and 38 percent adequate on November 28. Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 35 percent very short, 21 percent short, and 44 percent adequate, compared to 17 percent very short, 40 percent short, and 43 percent adequate on November 28. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 8, 2022

Colorado's winter wheat condition declined with 25 percent of the crop rated good to excellent, compared to 38 percent good to excellent from the previous report. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 8, 2022

The San Luis Valley remained very dry and warm during December. Mild weather and lack of snow allowed livestock to remain pastured longer than normal. Producers continued to provide feed supplements due to poor range conditions. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 8, 2022

Drought conditions worsened in eastern Colorado counties in December and livestock producers continued to utilize winter grazing arrangements where available. Concerns remained for fall-seeded crops and pasture conditions due to severe lack of precipitation. Kiowa County Press (Eads, Colo.), Jan 8, 2022

The Pueblo West Metro District Board of Directors at a meeting on Jan. 24 voted to freeze applications for any new building or water tap permits until a meeting on March 14. The pause will allow the Water Team time to assess drought conditions and a potential new water source in Chaffee County. Some developers and builders say the delay of several weeks will cause major setbacks for them. KOAA News (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Jan 26, 2022

With runoff from snowmelt expected to be unusually low in New Mexico this year, the state needs to be able to adapt when supplies are short. Officials are seeking a $48 million appropriation to expand a fallowing program along the Rio Grande in which farmers would be paid to leave fields unplanted. New Mexico also owes water to Texas, which will cause shortages this summer for farmers and the Rio Grande River. Associated Press News (New York), Jan 25, 2022

Gangs of wild elk were feasting on farmers’ haystacks in Washington and Oregon as drought and epic amounts of snow forced the animals down to the lowlands. Electric fences can be constructed to better keep elk out, and automatic propane cannons can be set up to haze the elk with noise, but the creatures are smart and can be hard to outwit. Drought has driven up alfalfa and grass hay prices this year in the West. Northwest News Network (Portland, Ore.), Jan 27, 2022

Millions of beehives were on their way to California in time for pollination season when almond orchards bloom in February. Drought was one of several factors, including colony collapse disorder, climate change, habitat loss and stronger pesticides, that were costing beekeepers 40% of their hives. Drought in California forced a Stanislaus County beekeeper to move his bees to Washington State for much of the year as wildflowers and plants were dried up in California. Capital Public Radio (Sacramento, Calif.), Jan 26, 2022

SPC 1630Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1002 AM CST Wed Jan 26 2022 Valid 261630Z - 271200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Isolated thunderstorms are possible across portions of southern Florida today through early evening, although severe storms are not expected. ...Synopsis... A cold front will drift southward into south FL through the day and into tonight. Larger-scale forcing for ascent will be weak given only subtle perturbations within a zonal flow regime aloft, but storm coverage could be aided some by pockets of surface heating within cloud breaks this afternoon. Despite MLCAPE of 750-1000 J/kg this afternoon and effective bulk shear near 35 kt, poor midlevel lapse rates and weak low-level flow both suggest that severe storms are unlikely. ..Thompson/Weinman.. 01/26/2022 Read more

No Mesoscale Discussions are in effect as of Wed Jan 26 16:06:02 UTC 2022.

No watches are valid as of Wed Jan 26 16:06:02 UTC 2022.

SPC Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0919 AM CST Wed Jan 26 2022 Valid 261700Z - 271200Z ...NO CRITICAL AREAS... Morning surface observations and trends in latest guidance continue to suggest low fire weather potential for today across the CONUS. Dry and locally breezy conditions remain possible across the lower CO River Valley and coastal southern CA, but fuels remain too limited to support a more robust concern. See the discussion below for additional details. ..Moore.. 01/26/2022 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0119 AM CST Wed Jan 26 2022/ ...Synopsis... Flow aloft will become broadly cyclonic across a sizable portion of the country today. At the surface, high pressure will be present in the West and from the Gulf Coast into the Northeast. A strong surface cyclone in southern Canada will move eastward north of the international border, bringing gusty winds to parts of the northern Plains and upper Midwest. Fire weather concerns will remain minimal due to a combination of cool/cold conditions and unreceptive fuels. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0656 AM CST Wed Jan 26 2022 Valid 261300Z - 271200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Isolated thunderstorms are possible across portions of southern Florida today through early evening, although severe storms are not expected. ...South Florida... A weakening southern-stream shortwave trough continues to steadily progress offshore toward the Atlantic, with neutral/slightly rising heights today in its wake. Additional low-level moistening will continue to occur today into the southern Florida Peninsula near/south of a west/east-oriented front, and ahead of a weak surface wave that will transition from the eastern Gulf of Mexico toward off the southeast Peninsula by tonight. Mid-level subsidence may have a detrimental effect, but weak convergence near the front, perhaps aided by an east-coast sea breeze, will influence shower/thunderstorm development into this afternoon within an increasingly moist and modestly unstable air mass. A couple of stronger/sustained storms could materialize in the presence of 800-1000 J/kg MLCAPE and moderately long/semi-straight hodographs. However, the influences of weak convergence, weakening low-level winds, a lingering subsidence inversion aloft, and pseudo-adiabatic lapse rates are expected to temper updraft/downdraft intensity, likely keeping the potential for severe storms low. ..Guyer/Bentley.. 01/26/2022 Read more

The ski industry has invested millions of dollars in more efficient snowmaking systems, drawing water from nearby streams or reservoirs. Snowmaking in Colorado diverts about 1.5 billion gallons of water annually, and about 80% of that returns to the watershed as snowmelt in the spring. Resorts are also using more energy efficient snow guns. Associated Press News (New York), Jan 24, 2022

Lubbock County commissioners approved a 30-day burn ban for the southeast part of the county beginning Jan. 24. KCBD-TV NBC 11 Lubbock (Texas), Jan 24, 2022

Wheat producers in the Texas High Plains are facing intense drought and must decide if dryland wheat is worth bringing to harvest. Many later-planted fields across the region have not emerged, and dryland field trial wheat plots planted Nov. 5 have only produced about a 2% stand so far. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Jan 25, 2022

Small fires have occurred in Central Texas, and burn bans were in effect. Heavy frost damaged winter oats, winter wheat. The tops of the oats browned and there was no available soil moisture for recovery. Grazing quality and quantity was impacted and will be slower to recover. Stock tank levels were down significantly through the fall and winter. Supplemental feeding was necessary for all livestock. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Jan 25, 2022