July 2011 Climate Summary

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

Temperature Summary

July 2011 temperatures were higher than normal across the High Plains Region.  Average monthly temperatures ranged from near normal to 10.0 degrees F (5.6 degrees C) above normal.  The largest departures occurred in central and southern Kansas, where temperatures ranged from 6-10 degrees F (3.3-5.6 degrees C) above normal. The hot temperatures caused many locations to be ranked in the top 10 warmest Julys.  Dodge City, Kansas continued to experience extreme temperatures this month and racked up a record 23 days at or above 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C). In a typical year, Dodge City will have 10.5 days at or above 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C) and by the end of July, this year’s total already stood at 35. These hot days helped Dodge City set its 3rd hottest July on record with an average temperature of 86.9 degrees F (30.5 degrees C).  The record of 87.3 degrees F (30.7 degrees C) was set in 1934 (period of record 1874-2011).  The hot and humid weather had various impacts on crops and livestock this month. In Kansas, the near record heat coupled with ongoing drought conditions caused crop conditions to decline throughout the month.  However, in the Dakotas, the hot and humid conditions helped push along row crop development, but severely stressed livestock.  According to the Aberdeen American News, over a thousand cattle died in South Dakota due to the high heat and humidity.

Precipitation Summary

Precipitation was highly variable this month.  Unfortunately, drought stricken areas of southern Kansas and southern Colorado missed out on most of the precipitation.  The majority of Wyoming also missed out on the precipitation and most of the northern half of the state had precipitation totals which were at most 50 percent of normal.  One location which received little precipitation this month was Dodge City, Kansas which only received 19 percent of normal precipitation.  While this was not low enough to break July records, the year-to-date precipitation was the lowest on record (period of record 1874-2011).  So far this year, Dodge City has only received 3.95 inches (100 mm) of precipitation.  The second driest January-July occurred in 2002, when 5.71 inches (145 mm) of precipitation fell.

July 2011 was not a dry month for the entire Region as some areas did receive above normal precipitation.  Northern Colorado, portions of northern Kansas, a large part of the Nebraska panhandle, eastern South Dakota, and central North Dakota all had precipitation totals which were at least 150 percent of normal.  A few locations even broke monthly precipitation records.  Walden, Colorado, located in the north central part of the state, had its wettest July on record with 3.21 inches (82 mm) of precipitation.  The old record of 3.06 inches (78 mm) was set in 1952 (period of record 1897-2011).  Cheyenne, Wyoming had its second wettest July on record with 5.63 inches (143 mm).  On July 12, severe storms brought heavy rain and large hail (up to 2 inches in diameter) to the Cheyenne area, and nearly half of the monthly precipitation total occurred that day.  This set a new daily rainfall record for July 12 in Cheyenne with 2.43 inches (62 mm).  The old record of 1.69 inches (43 mm) occurred in 1981 (period of record 1871-2011).

Climate Outlook

El Niño Southern Oscillation cycle (ENSO)-neutral conditions are present in the equatorial Pacific and are expected to continue into fall.  The temperature outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal temperatures for southwestern Colorado, eastern Kansas, and extreme southeastern Nebraska.  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 North Dakota, South Dakota, the majority of Nebraska, the eastern half of Wyoming, northeast Colorado, and northern Kansas.  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, ENSO.  More information about these forecasts can be found here.

Drought Watch

The U.S. Drought Monitor had both improvements and degradations this month.  Heavy precipitation was able to alleviate abnormally dry conditions (D0) in southern Nebraska, northern Kansas, and northern Colorado.  The areas which were designated as moderate (D1), severe (D2), and extreme (D3) drought remained largely the same.  However, extreme heat coupled with dry conditions led to an expansion of exceptional drought conditions (D4) not only in southern and central Kansas, but also in south central Colorado.  By the end of the month, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming remained drought free.  According to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook released July 21st drought conditions in Colorado and most of Kansas were expected to improve.  Only the most southern portions of the drought conditions in Kansas were expected to persist.