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Spring Precipitation Rankings
Author: Joseph Brum - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2012-06-08 20:57:22
Updated: 2012-07-01 17:39:48
This spring (March, April, May) much the High Plains Region was drier than normal. With the exceptions of eastern South Dakota, central North Dakota, northwestern Wyoming, southeastern Kansas, and pockets in Nebraska, most of the Region had below normal precipitation totals. Many locations in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming had totals that were 2 inches below normal.
Scottsbluff, NE had its driest spring on record and Cheyenne, WY had its 2nd driest spring on record.
Check out the table below to see rankings from across the High Plains Region. (Records refer to either smallest amount or largest amount of precip depending on the ranking)
| Location | Total Spring Precipitation (in) / Rank | Record or Previous Record (in) / Year | Period of Record |
| Alamosa, CO | 1.18 / 30th driest | 0.19 / 1972 | 1906-2012 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 1.69 / 7th driest | 1.14 / 2006 | 1894-2012 |
| Denver, CO | 2.43 / 12th driest | 1.25 / 1925 | 1872-2012 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 0.58 / 3rd driest | 0.57 / 1972 | 1893-2012 |
| Pueblo, CO | 1.83 / 17th driest | 0.42 / 2002 | 1888-2012 |
| Concordia, KS | 6.37 / 41st driest | 1.40 / 1966 | 1885-2012 |
| Dodge City, KS | 6.72 / 51st wettest | 15.70 / 1881 | 1874-2012 |
| Goodland, KS | 3.91 / 33rd driest | 1.60 / 1934 | 1895-2012 |
| Salina, KS | 5.20 / 6th driest | 1.05 / 1966 | 1948-2012 |
| Topeka, KS | 8.51 / 46th driest | 2.49 / 1966 | 1887-2012 |
| Wichita, KS | 11.97 / 34th wettest | 19.01 / 1944 | 1888-2012 |
| Grand Island, NE | 4.53 / 18th driest | 0.77 / 1934 | 1895-2012 |
| Lincoln, NE | 7.38 / 60th driest | 1.41 / 1989 | 1887-2012 |
| Norfolk, NE | 8.05 / 53rd wettest | 15.64 / 1977 | 1893-2012 |
| North Platte, NE | 5.24 / 59th driest | 1.63 / 1934 | 1874-2012 |
| Omaha, NE | 8.40 / 62nd wettest | 18.49 / 2007 | 1871-2012 |
| Scottsbluff, NE | 1.33 / driest | 1.55 / 1966 | 1893-2012 |
| Valentine, NE | 3.99 / 22nd driest | 1.90 / 1966 | 1889-2012 |
| Bismarck, ND | 4.22 / 68th driest | 0.80 / 1952 | 1874-2012 |
| Fargo, ND | 3.39 / 22nd driest | 1.28 / 1980 | 1881-2012 |
| Grand Forks, ND | 4.95 / 46th wettest | 14.01 / 1896 | 1893-2012 |
| Williston, ND | 3.76 / 54th wettest | 10.45 / 1896 | 1894-2012 |
| Aberdeen, SD | 5.14 / 46th driest | 1.31 / 1948 | 1893-2012 |
| Huron, SD | 8.35 / 24th wettest | 14.96 / 1995 | 1881-2012 |
| Rapid City, SD | 5.25 / 34th wettest | 11.20 / 1946 | 1942-2012 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 7.77 / 52nd wettest | 14.65 / 1995 | 1893-2012 |
| Casper, WY | 3.09 / 14th driest | 1.84 / 1994 | 1939-2012 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 0.69 / 2nd driest | 0.67 / 1880 | 1872-2012 |
| Lander, WY | 3.22 / 12th driest | 1.36 / 1919 | 1891-2012 |
| Sheridan, WY | 4.27 / 32nd driest | 1.67 / 1960 | 1907-2012 |