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Drought Conditions in the High Plains Region - Update August 16
Author: Natalie Umphlett - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2012-08-16 13:17:54
Updated: 2012-08-23 14:47:13
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought conditions have worsened, yet again, this week in much of the High Plains Region. Overall, 86.05% of the Region was in moderate (D1) to exceptional (D4) drought. This was down only slightly from last week's 87.13%. The major change from last week was the expansion of D4 conditions from 7.92% to 15.52% of the Region. The largest increase in D4 coverage was in Nebraska and Kansas. The small area of D4 in central Nebraska expanded south and west, and into the panhandle. The D4 area in Nebraska now totals 22.53% which was a large jump from last week's 3.46%. Check out the table below for the drought conditions over the past month for Nebraska. For more on the drought situation in Nebraska check out this site: http://droughtresources.unl.edu/
Unfortunately, the situation in Kansas is even worse, where the D4 designation now runs the entire length of the state and includes most of the west and the east. D4 conditions now cover 63.30% of Kansas. 100% of the state continues to be in at least severe drought conditions (D2).
There were a few places where improvements were made. Beneficial rains helped alleviate some abnormally dry conditions (D0) in North Dakota, and a small portion of northern South Dakota was downgraded from moderate drought (D1) to D0. To learn more about the U.S. Drought Monitor, please see: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu
To view more statistics of the High Plains Region and each state check out the Tabular Statistics here: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_highplains.htm
Drought Condition (Percent Area): Nebraska
| Date | None | D0-D4 | D1-D4 | D2-D4 | D3-D4 | D-4 |
| 08/14/2012 | 0.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 91.40 | 22.53 |
| 08/07/2012 | 0.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 91.17 | 3.46 |
| 07/31/2012 | 0.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 83.00 | 3.46 |
| 07/24/2012 | 0.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 64.07 | 2.80 |
| 07/17/2012 | 0.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 75.46 | 4.93 | 0.00 |
| 07/10/2012 | 0.00 | 100.00 | 99.81 | 54.57 | 2.03 | 0.00 |