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Weekly High Plains Drought Update - August 18, 2016
Author: Haylie Mikulak - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2016-08-18 15:45:34
Updated:
Locally isolated precipitation brought some improvements to areas of the High Plains Region this week. Other areas saw slight degradation due to the lack of significant precipitation. In South Dakota, areas of moderate (D1), severe (D2), and extreme (D3) drought conditions across the state decreased. North Dakota experienced slight changes this week with the removal of the D0 and D1 conditions in the southeast corner. D1 conditions in the Nebraska Panhandle decreased while the D0 conditions expanded further east. In addition, central and eastern Nebraska saw a slight increase in D0, D1, and D2 conditions. There were no changes in the D0 conditions continuing to persist in northern Kansas. North-central Colorado saw the expansion of D0 conditions as well as the introduction of D1 conditions. Conditions across Wyoming saw little to no change with areas of D0, D1, D2, and D3 continuing to persist.
Over 63% of the High Plains region is currently free of drought or abnormal dryness.
Over the next week, below-normal temperatures are expected for the High Plains Region as well as much of the southern and central US. However, normal temperatures are expected for the northern portion of the region. Meanwhile, above normal precipitation is expected for the southern portion of the region as well as the Southern Plains. The northern portion of the region as well as areas in the Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, and East Coast expect below normal precipitation.
For more information on the U.S. Drought Monitor, please visit: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu
