Weekly High Plains Drought Update - April 7, 2016

There were both degradations and improvements in drought conditions this week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. A new area of moderate drought (D1) was introduced to western North Dakota, which brings the area in drought in the state up to just over 25%. Nearly 90% of the state is experiencing at least abnormally dry conditions (D0). The winter has been rather warm and dry in North Dakota, prompting the expansion.

Another area of D1 expansion occurred in Kansas, spreading into the northeastern part of the state. D0 conditions also expanded to encompass over 90% of the state and reaches into southern Nebraska. Over 35% of Kansas is now in drought. Part of this drought area reaches into southeastern Colorado. Conditions have been very warm, dry, and windy in this region, sparking wildfires and causing them to spread rapidly.

Wet conditions in March prompted the removal of drought and dryness in some areas of Wyoming. Parts of the state received over 200% of normal precipitation during the past 30 days, which helped improve mountain snowpack conditions. A sliver of severe drought (D2) was removed from the Bighorn Mountains area, and the area of Wyoming in drought (D1 and D2) dropped from nearly 14% to just under 7%. A large area of D0 was also eradicated so that less than half the state is now experiencing drought or dryness.

In the next week, the heaviest precipitation is expected to occur in the Rockies and southern Kansas. Light amounts of precipitation are predicted for central Kansas and northeastern North Dakota, while the rest of the region is expected to remain dry. Meanwhile, temperatures are expected to be above normal this week for much of the High Plains.

For more information on the U.S. Drought Monitor, please visit: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu