Flood warning issued for Ten Sleep Creek

TEN SLEEP - The National Weather Service in Riverton has issued a flood warning for Northern Washakie County in central Wyoming due to rain and snowmelt. A gauge along Ten Sleep Creek near the town of Ten Sleep was at 4.4 feet at 2 a.m. Thursday. Flood stage is 4.5 feet. The creek will likely fluctuate around 4.5 feet through today.

At 2:06 a.m. Thursday, local law enforcement reported flooding in local campgrounds and in low lying areas along Ten Sleep Creek. Water levels were also approaching the base of the Highway 16 bridge at Ten Sleep.

Some areas expected to see flooding include property along Ten Sleep Creek and the Wig Wam Fish Rearing Station.

According to the NWS at Riverton, increased snowmelt at the 9,000- to 10,000-foot elevation

will be followed by widespread rain showers on Sunday, which could increase flooding.

Highest flows of the runoff season can be expected Monday and Tuesday of next week.

Afternoon mountain temperatures at the 9,000-foot elevation are expected to warm to into the lower to middle 60s Friday and Saturday. Morning low temperatures near 9,000 feet are forecasted to be at

or above the frost temperature of 37 degrees Friday through Sunday.

Increased snowmelt at the 9,000- to 10,000-foot elevation through Saturday will be followed by widespread mountain rain showers on Sunday. At this time, precipitation totals look to the highest across the Big Horn Mountains.

The combination of rain and snowmelt runoff will further increase already high creek and river levels. The Wind River and the North/South Forks of the Shoshone River should see the highest flows of the runoff season by Monday and Tuesday of next week. Tributary streams that feed into the Big Horn and Snake Rivers may also see the highest flows of the season by early next week.

During active snowmelt runoff, mountain creeks and streams are at their highest levels during the late afternoon/early evening hours. The NWS advises that crossing creeks and streams during that time is highly hazardous.

As of Thursday morning, the Big Horn River at Worland was at 6.18 feet, with a flood stage of 10.5 feet. Medicine Lodge Creek near Hyattville was reading 3.3 feet, with a flood stage of 3.5 feet.