Update on High Plains Drought Conditions, September 1st, 2015

The High Plains region saw some improvements and degradations in the drought monitor this week. In Nebraska, three relatively small areas of abnormal dryness (D0) were introduced this week, based on increasing dryness. In the Panhandle, September is typically the time to plant hard red winter wheat. Warm, dry conditions are a concern in getting crop sown with good seed bed moisture and established with ample time for optimal root development prior to hardening off before the arrival of winter. In south-central Nebraska, there were reports of dryland corn and beans rapidly deteriorating. Abnormal dryness (D0) was also added to extreme southeastern Nebraska. In northwestern, north-central, and central Kansas, D0 coverage was expanded. However parts of northwestern Kansas are where the improvements were made indicating that rainfall was spotty.

In North Dakota there were warm temperatures two to six degrees above normal in the northwest, and two to six degrees below normal in the southeast. Harvesting small grains made considerable progress due to the lack of rain. Most of southern South Dakota experienced storms last week with significant rainfall. Generally cooler temperatures prevailed across most of the state during the week.

Well below normal temperatures were common across most of eastern Nebraska. However, western dryland crops and pastures were showing signs of stress as they received little to no rainfall. Final hay harvest was active, as was preparation for winter wheat planting in the west. Most of Kansas experienced cool, mostly dry conditions. Corn maturity is way behind the 5 year average of 30 percent. Currently only 16 percent of corn is mature.

Dry, hot weather conditions prevailed in eastern districts while western districts experienced a greater abundance of beneficial precipitation.  In eastern districts, high temperatures pushed crops to maturity while trace precipitation levels allowed the harvest of small grains to progress rapidly.  Moisture deprivation in the east has led to concerns over heat stress on standing crops and delays to fall plantings. In Wyoming warmer and drier conditions dominated around the state. Many areas are still primed for wildfires.

To learn more about the U.S. Drought Monitor, please see: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

To see the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook, please see the Climate Prediction Center
here:http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/sdo_summary.html

To see the areas of agriculture affected by the drought, please see the USDA link: http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/Drought/AgInDrought.pdf

To see the impacts of the drought, please see the Drought Impact Reporter here: http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/
Check out the table below for the drought conditions over the past 2 months for the High Plains Region.

To view statistics of the High Plains Region and each state check out the Regional Statistics here:
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/MapsAndData/DataTables.aspx

Drought Condition (Percent Area): High Plains Region