Drought Conditions in the High Plains Region-Update April 18

Beneficial precipitation continues to improve the drought conditions in the High Plains Region.  According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, last week’s precipitation totals that fell after the cutoff and from this week’s storms have all been accounted for in showing the improvements to the drought situation in the Region. The area of moderate drought (D1) or worse improved by more than 5%, to now total 86.43% of the Region. The areas of severe drought (D2) and extreme drought (D3) also improved by more than 5% and 7%, respectively. The worst condition, exceptional drought (D4), decreased in area by 5% to now only total 6.77% of the Region; also, over the past three months the area of D4 has decreased by 20%. States in the Region that showed major improvements this week are South Dakota and Wyoming. Both states have had all areas that were D4 upgraded to D3 this week, this also marks the first time since the end of August that South Dakota and Wyoming have been free of D4 area.  Furthermore, a majority of D3 areas from last week have been upgraded to D2 this week. Likewise, the areas of D3 have not been this low for both states since the end of August. Nebraska once having nearly 78% of its area in D4 type conditions had improvements again this week, now only 8.29% of the state is in such a situation. Colorado and Kansas had minimal improvements this week versus last and North Dakota has only 25% of its area in a drought condition.