July 2009 Climate Summary

For a printable version of the climate summary which includes more figures, data tables, and state summaries, click here.

Region Breakdown

July 2009 went down as the coolest on record for many locations in the High Plains Region as temperatures were 4˚F to 6˚F (2.2˚C to 3.3˚C) below normal for much of the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas.  Most locations ranked in the top 10 coolest Julys on record and several broke the record.  The cool temperatures in Auburn, NE broke a record that has been in place since 1906.  The old record of 70.7˚F (21.5˚C) was just barely edged out by the new record of 70.6˚F (21.4˚C).  Only pockets of Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas had temperatures above normal.  A list of temperature records is located on page 2 of the climate summary.

The cool temperatures combined with timely precipitation in Nebraska to produce one of the best wheat crops on record.  According to the USDA the average yield has been 48 bushels an acre which is nearly 10 bushels an acre more than usual.  Unfortunately, in other parts of the region, there are some concerns about whether or not crops will reach maturity before freezing in the fall.

Precipitation Summary

Precipitation was hit or miss across the Region this July.  Interestingly, the cool temperatures this month did not necessarily accompany above normal precipitation, which would be expected this time of year.  The larger areas of below normal precipitation in the eastern side of the Region (eastern North Dakota, eastern Nebraska, and southern Kansas) were all accompanied by cooler temperatures.  Small pockets of above normal precipitation occurred in South Dakota, southwest North Dakota, the panhandle of Nebraska, central Wyoming, central Colorado, and eastern Kansas.

The big precipitation story this month comes from Wyoming where, for the first time in nine years, 100% of the state is free of drought or abnormally dry conditions.  According to the National Weather Service in Riverton, WY, the drought started as abnormally dry conditions expanded across the state in the late spring and early summer of 2000.  The drought peaked in 2003 when 99% of the state was in extreme or exceptional drought.  It wasn’t until a wet spring in 2005 that Wyoming began to see significant relief and areas of exceptional drought were eliminated.  The spring and summer of 2006 were dry and conditions worsened, however above normal precipitation in 2007 helped alleviate drought conditions in the eastern part of the state.  Portions of western Wyoming remained in drought until abundant rainfall fell this year.  While drought conditions will return, Wyoming is free of drought for now.

Climate Outlook

El Niño conditions are present and, based on observations and forecasts, will intensify and continue through winter 2009-10.  The temperature outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal temperatures for extreme southern Colorado, and a higher probability of below normal temperatures for far eastern North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska.  Elsewhere in the region, equal chances of above, near, or below normal temperatures are predicted.  The precipitation outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal precipitation for a broad area that includes extreme southern North Dakota, all of South Dakota, most of Nebraska, the western half of Kansas, eastern Wyoming, and the eastern half of Colorado.  Elsewhere in the region, equal chances of above, near, or below normal precipitation is predicted.  More information about these forecasts can be found here.

Drought Watch

Sporadic precipitation this month led to both improvements and degradation in the U.S. Drought Monitor.  Wyoming and nearly all of Colorado are drought free.  The largest change to the U.S. Drought Monitor over the past month was to North Dakota and Nebraska.  After record precipitation and flooding this spring, a large swath of North Dakota has slipped into abnormally dry conditions and an area of moderate drought has developed in the east central portion of the state.  Both abnormally dry conditions and moderate drought conditions have expanded across eastern Nebraska.  Meanwhile, much of the abnormally dry conditions in Kansas and South Dakota have been erased.  According to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook, the drought conditions in south central Nebraska are expected to improve through October 2009.