Year 3 June - Winter Storm! 🖊️
Hold on, what’s this? A winter storm warning in June?
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
334 PM MDT FRI JUN 11 2010WYZ001>020-022>030-121100-…
NATRONA COUNTY LOWER ELEVATIONS-NORTH BIG HORN BASIN-…334 PM MDT FRI JUN 11 2010…
Brace yourselves! A major snowstorm is on the horizon, bringing heavy, wet snow to the east slope of the Wind River Mountains tonight through at least Saturday evening. Get ready for 6 to 12 inches between about 7000 feet and 9000 feet, and a whopping 1 to 2 feet above 9000 feet. In favored elevations above 9000 feet, local amounts up to 3 feet are even possible. Saturday might see 2 to 8 inches in the Salt and Wyoming Ranges, and possibly along the east slope of the Bighorn Mountains and the southeast end of the Absaroka Mountains.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY
Additional snowfall is possible along the east slope of the Wind River Mountains Saturday night and Sunday, and maybe along the east slope of the Bighorn Mountains. Expect a major warm-up early next week, leading to a rapid snowmelt of the new expected snowfall and the snow still on the ground.
This is just one reason keeping bees in higher Wyoming elevations is no easy feat. I’ve witnessed this weather stretch into July, ease off until the end of August, and then kick in again.
Unfortunately, it leaves only a single brood cycle, which isn’t enough time for a hive to become productive before the season wraps up. Everything has to align perfectly, leaving no room to fix any hiccups. That’s why only a handful of swarms survive long as feral hives in the wild.
I don’t anticipate a snowstorm hitting my area directly, but I’m bracing for more snow about a mile south of the house at the higher elevations.
What’s really got me concerned is the flood potential. My beeyard sits above the river, and right now, the water level is high, surpassing the first bench. Still, it’s about two to three feet below the second bench. Fingers crossed my hives don’t turn into floating beehavens. It’s a situation I’ll be monitoring closely over the next week or so.
Ah, the joys of Wyoming beekeeping. ✨
-Cheers, D 🌸🐝
