Unless those in the northeast part of the state get significant moisture in the next week, the state climatologist will recommend that area be considered in an "exceptional" drought - the most dire classification.

Jan Curtis, state climatologist, said areas around Newcastle are "really, really hurting" and currently considered in "extreme" drought conditions.

"In the northeast part of the state, they are about as bad as they can get," Curtis said.

The "exceptional" classification, if approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will likely mean water restrictions and a difficult summer for ranchers with widespread crop and pasture losses. It could also mean some government assistance.

Still, the state has been getting a good dousing in the past week, with snowpack numbers increasing from last week.

The Belle Fourche River Basin snowpack was at 53 percent of average Monday, up from 50 percent the week before. Last year at this time the basin snowpack stood at 75 percent of average. The number dipped to as low as 42 percent of average during the last week in February.

The Big Horn Basin snowpack jumped from 64 to 69 percent of average in the last week. Last year at this time, the number was 84 percent.

Still faring best is the Upper Bear River Basin, now at 101 percent of average. Last year was at just 73 percent.

The weighted average for total Wyoming snowpack was 80 percent of average Monday, up from 77 percent the week before. Last year at this time, the number stood at 88 percent.

"We're doing better," Curtis said. "In fact, by next week we'll be close to what we were last year. The rest of the week has unsettled weather (coming) across the state. The good news is it's going to stay a little cooler than average. Unfortunately, I don't see any real major systems coming through that will be a drought-buster."

Rich Miller, specialist with the National Weather Service in Riverton, said while there is "nothing major" coming through this week, minor disturbances will bring moisture to most of the state.

Each day has a chance of snow and rain showers statewide.

Miller said as temperatures increase, chances for more moisture and thunderstorms increase because of the warm air lifting.

Curtis said the state needs "a lot of these weather events" to help. But he said the forecast indicates the weather will bump snowpack levels up by between 3 and 5 percent statewide.

Ranchers in the southern half of the state - particularly in areas east of Rawlins - are faring well because the moisture this past week will help with green-up of grasses, Curtis said.

"The southern third of the state through the central part is looking considerably better than last week at this time," he said.

Wyoming snowpack

These numbers show water content in snowpack as a percentage of historical averages at their respective points in the season:

Basin Monday March 14 A year ago

Snake River 71 68 88

Upper Yellowstone 69 65 87

Wind River 90 89 82

Big Horn 69 64 84

Shoshone 58 55 74

Powder-Tongue 86 82 97

Belle Fourche 53 50 75

Upper North Platte 92 88 80

Lower North Platte 84 83 77

Little Snake River 98 93 83

Upper Green 78 77 81

Lower Green 94 91 75

Upper Bear River 101 100 73

Weighted state average 80 77 88

Reporter Whitney Royster can be reached at (307) 734-0260 or at royster@trib.com.