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December 2007 Climate Summary
Author: Christy Carlson - Regional Climatologist HPRCC
Published: 2008-01-11 16:53:36
Updated: 2008-03-14 14:22:54
Region Breakdown
Precipitation was above normal for much of the Southern High Plains region as parts of Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas experienced an active winter-storm pattern for much of December. Liquid precipitation totals were 200% of Normal or higher for much of the Southern High Plains Region, while the Western Dakotas remained dry. December 10, a large system moved through Central and Eastern Kansas bringing with it record precipitation amounts and sub-freezing temperatures, resulting in a deadly mix of ice and heavy snow.
Those regions receiving above normal precipitation amounts also experienced below-normal average temperature for the month of December, with departures of 4-8 degrees Fahrenheit below Normal for parts of Nebraska and Northern Kansas. The western Dakotas experienced above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation, continuing their warm and dry trend through 2007.
Precipitation
Precipitation was above normal for much of the Southern High Plains region as parts of Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas experienced an active winter-storm pattern for much of December. December 10, a large system moved through Central and Eastern Kansas bringing with it record precipitation amounts and sub-freezing temperature, resulting in a deadly mix of ice and heavy snow. Residents were left without electricity for up to two weeks in portions of eastern and central Kansas as a result of down power lines, with damage estimates from this storm in Kansas along of close to $150 million according to preliminary estimates from Kansas Electric Cooperatives.
The snow in December also provided for additional subsoil moisture and crop insulation for winter wheat throughout the state of Kansas. The snow cover throughout the High Plains region during December resulted in depressed temperatures as well. Although this precipitation during the month of December was over 200% of normal for much of Nebraska and Kansas for December, it was not record breaking.
Many locations throughout eastern Colorado, Southern Nebraska and Kansas experienced snowfall amounts for December that ranked within the top 10 for snowfall, here are just a few:
Wichita, KS - 10.6 inches of snow (7th);
Omaha, Nebraska - 9.2 inches (10th);
Goodland, Kansas - 14.2 inches of snow (10th);
Denver, Colorado - 16.7 inches of snow (6th);
Akron, Colorado (Akron 4 E) - 15.1 inches of snow (1st);
Boulder, Colorado - 29.9 inches of snow (6th);
Sterling, Colorado - 17.0 inches of snow (2nd).