November 2010 Climate Summary

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

Temperature Summary

Average temperatures in November 2010 were generally near normal across the High Plains Region. Average temperatures which were up to 4 degrees F (2.2 degrees C) above normal occurred in central North Dakota, eastern South Dakota, eastern Kansas, and in isolated pockets of Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming. In central Colorado, several stations had average temperatures which were over 4 degrees F (2.2 degrees C) above normal; however this was not warm enough to even break into the top 10 warmest Novembers on record. Average temperatures were up to 4 degrees F (2.2 degrees C) below normal in southern Colorado, pockets of the western Dakotas, and the panhandle of Nebraska.  In north-central Wyoming, average temperatures were up to 6 degrees F (3.3 degrees C) below normal and at least two locations ranked in the top 10 coolest Novembers on record.

After recording its 4th warmest October on record, Worland, WY recorded its 8th coolest November on record (period of record 1961-2010). The average temperature at Worland this month was 27.7 degrees F (-2.4 degrees C) which was 4.1 degrees F (2.3 degrees C) below normal. The coolest November on record occurred in 1985 with 15.8 degrees F (-9.0 degrees C).

Precipitation Summary

November was drier than normal for most of the Region. Many locations across Colorado, western Kansas, central Nebraska, and eastern South Dakota received less than 25 percent of normal precipitation. In south-central Colorado, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, ongoing dryness led to the development of severe drought conditions. Lamar, Colorado, located in southeastern Colorado on the Arkansas River, received no precipitation this month, which tied for the driest November on record (period of record 1893-2010). Also, by only receiving 0.53 inches (13 mm) of precipitation the past three months, Lamar recorded its 5th driest fall (September, October, and November) on record. The driest fall on record occurred in 1934 when no precipitation fell.

There were exceptions to the dryness in northwestern and southeastern Wyoming and a swath extending from south-central Kansas through southeastern Nebraska, where precipitation was 150 percent of normal or more. In Kansas, many locations ranked in the top 10 wettest Novembers on record. This month's wet spot was Ashland, Kansas which is located in the south-central portion of the state near the Oklahoma border. With 3.40 inches (86 mm) of precipitation, Ashland recorded its 7th wettest November on record (period of record 1900-2010). 2.36 inches (60 mm) of this precipitation fell on November 12 and set a new daily precipitation record. The previous record for that date was set in 1997 with 1.90 inches (48 mm) of precipitation.

Snowfall in northwestern Colorado was a welcome sight as it helped alleviate abnormally dry conditions. Steamboat Springs, Colorado set its 8th snowiest November on record when it received 38.3 inches (97 cm) of snow this month (period of record 1893-2010). However, this was not nearly enough to beat the record 57.0 inches (145 cm) of snow that fell in November 1983.

Climate Outlook

La Niña conditions were present across the equatorial Pacific this month and are expected to continue into spring 2011. The temperature outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal temperatures for Colorado, Kansas, most of Nebraska, and southern Wyoming. North Dakota and northern South Dakota have a higher probability of below normal temperatures. Equal chances of above, near, or below normal temperatures are predicted elsewhere in the Region. The precipitation outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal precipitation for western Wyoming and western North Dakota. Only southern Colorado has a higher probability of below normal precipitation. Equal chances of above, near, or below normal precipitation are predicted elsewhere in the Region.  The seasonal outlooks combine the effects of long-term trends, soil moisture, and when applicable, the El Niño Southern Oscillation cycle (ENSO).  More information about these forecasts can be found here.

Drought Watch

The U.S. Drought monitor showed both improvement and deterioration over the past month. Snowfall helped alleviate the moderate drought (D1) conditions in northern Wyoming and some of the abnormally dry conditions (D0) in western Colorado and northern and eastern Wyoming. However, D0 stretched into southeastern Kansas from Oklahoma and D1 spread from east-central Colorado to the east and into western Kansas. In addition, due to an ongoing lack of precipitation, severe drought conditions (D2) developed in southeast Colorado. According to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook released November 18th, the D1 areas in western Wyoming were expected to improve and the drought areas in eastern Colorado, the panhandle of Nebraska, and far southeastern Wyoming were expected to persist through December 2010.