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The Jackson Hole Valley is experiencing its longest dry spell in the past 15 years with the entire county in at least some level of drought.
David Lee, a Water Resources Specialist at the Teton Conservation District, said it’s the first time any portion of the county has been placed into an “extreme” drought category this year — right behind “exceptional” drought, which is as bad as it gets.
“It’s been dry across the entire county for several months now,” Lee said.
That “extreme” drought has been measured on the eastern edge of Teton County into Fremont County — where the Pack Trail Fire has burned over 85-thousand acres — around the size of Yellowstone Lake — and is about 60% confined.
Lee says that although lower stream flows are typical for the season, the county usually sees more precipitation.
“By this time of year, a lot of folks expect a pattern shift to abate some of that fire activity and we just haven’t seen it yet,” Lee said.
The Pack Trail fire on Togwotee Pass is forcing evacuations in Teton and Fremont Counties and contributing to unhealthy — occasionally hazardous — air quality. Fire has been burning in heavy, dense timber in the remote areas of National Forest since August.
“Fall is usually a time where we or we get a pattern change and start to get some nice, cool temps, which we’ve gotten,” Lee said, “but some precip (precipitation) as well, which we haven’t.”
The Pack Trail Fire has burned over 85,000 acres near Togwotee Pass and is about 60% confined.
Lee is hoping rain or snow forecasted toward the end of the week will help alleviate drought conditions and reduce fire activity.
