High Plains Mid Year Climate Update: January 1, 2009 - June 30, 2009

PRECIPITATION:

Precipitation totals for the first 6 months of the year through June 30, 2009 for the High Plains region were well below normal stretching from Texas up through Oklahoma, Kansas and into the Dakotas.  There are only two locations in the High Plains showing above normal precipitation for the first half of the year, South Central North Dakota and western Nebraska and as a result this area is the most green that it has been in years as we head into Summer.  It is interesting to note that the High Plains is similar to much of the U.S. in experiencing a drier than normal year so far.  Only a portion of the Midwest and the central mountainous west have had an above normal year for precipitation as of June 30.  Ironically, the center of the High Plains received well above normal precipitation during the month of June, however, it was not enough to erase the significant departure from normal even for that portion of the region.  Much of the precipitation across the Northern Plains has occurred with stalled fronts this spring into early Summer  as opposed to isolated convective precipitation, which has helped restore soil moisture depleted during the recent 7-year drought.  Crops continue to do well throughout the northern Plains, despite the dry early start of the year, but this could change were the region to suddenly head into high heat conditions (95 F or higher) as we head into mid Summer. As expected with these overall conditions, the river levels in the northern Plains have returned to near their long term normals, however, further south in the High Plains, the river flows are significantly below normal and reservoirs continue to drop.

TEMPERATURE:

The average temperature for the first 6 months of 2009 in the High Plains were above normal for Nebraska and Kansas but were below normal for South and North Dakota.   The northern High Plains, including the area just outside our region in Minnesota and Wisconsin, is however, the only large region of the U.S. that has experienced below normal temperatures during January 1-June 30, 2009.  The temperature trends this year are having a dramatic impact on soil moisture in the High Plains.  The northern Plains, experiencing a dry year has had exceptionally cool conditions, hence the soil moisture is not being drawn down very much.  Much of the central to northern High Plains region has yet to hit 100 F and the number of days with 90 F or higher are also well below normal so far this year. However, it is a different story in the southern Plains.  Warmer than normal conditions combined with below normal precipitation have severely impacted water levels in reservoirs and has stunted the growth of many crops.