As of mid-January 2026, the Upper Yellowstone watershed sits at a surprising 107% of normal SWE (Snow Water Equivalent). To residents of Park County, this number feels "fake" - the ground is bare, and record-breaking temperatures (exceeding 15-20°F above normal) have dominated the winter.
Join us Wednesday, January 28, from 12–1 p.m. for an online conversation with Eric Larson (NRCS Water Supply Specialist) and Dr. Cathy Whitlock (MSU Earth Sciences Regents Professor Emerita) as they discuss the elevational contrast in our snowpack and what the long-term trends of "warm-winter" means for the future of our watersheds.
This community conversation aims to bridge the gap between what residents see out their windows and what the sensors are reading in the high country, while contextualizing these trends within the long-term climate reality of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.