Weekly High Plains Drought Update - August 11, 2016

Locally isolated precipitation brought some improvements to areas of the High Plains Region this week, however improvements were minimal.  Other areas saw further degradation due to the lack of significant precipitation.  Over 86% of South Dakota is experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions.  In western South Dakota, southwestern North Dakota, and northeastern Wyoming, moderate (D1), severe (D2), and extreme (D3) drought conditions continue to persist.  Overall, abnormally dry (D0) conditions remained in southeastern Wyoming, however there were slight improvements in the area.  D2 conditions expanded further into the Big Horn Range in Wyoming.  D0 and D1 conditions in central and northeastern Nebraska, northwestern North Dakota, northeastern Kansas, central South Dakota as well as north-central Colorado widened.  The small area of D2 conditions introduced into south-central Nebraska, close to the Nebraska-Kansas border last week continues to remain.   

Over 60% of the High Plains region is currently free of drought or abnormal dryness.  

Over the next week, above-normal temperatures are expected for the northern portion of the High Plains Region as well as much of the northern US and along both coasts.  However, normal temperatures are expected for the southern portion of the region as well as areas across the southern US.  Meanwhile, above normal precipitation is expected for the northern portion of the region as well as the Southeast and Southern Plains.  The southern portion of the region as well as areas in the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies expect below normal precipitation while the central portion of the High Plains Region expects near-normal precipiation values.

For more information on the U.S. Drought Monitor, please visit: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu