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Weekly High Plains Drought Update - April 15, 2016
Author: Haylie Mikulak - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2016-04-15 15:57:50
Updated:
There were further degradations this week as well as improvements in drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The areas of moderate drought (D1) expanded further across west-central and east-central Kansas resulting in over 50% of the state encountering drought conditions. Over 95% of the state is experiencing at least abnormally dry conditions. Conditions have been very warm, dry, and windy in this region, sparking wildfires and causing them to spread rapidly.
With only a few tenths of an inch of precipitaiton, if any falling across the Dakotas last week further deterioration to moderate drought (D1) in northeastern and northwestern South Dakota as well as southeastern North Dakota resulted. Abnormal dryness (D0) was introduced for areas in central South Dakota as well. Northeastern Wyoming experienced a slight reduction in their drought area as well as a removal of most of the D0 areas. This further removal of D0 conditions in the area has resulted in less than 40% of the state is experiencing drought or dryness.
Over the next week heavy precipitaiton (3 to locally 6 inches) is expected to reach western Kansas, Nebraska, and eastern Colorado as well as approximately an inch is expected across most of the Plains extending up through the central Dakotas. Meanwhile, temperatures are expected to be above normal for most of the High Plains this week.
For more information on the U.S. Drought Monitor, please visit: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu
