Drought Conditions in the High Plains Region-Update May 2

After several weeks of improvements, the drought condition in High Plains Region held relatively steady this week. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the area of moderate drought (D1) or worse slightly improved just 1% this week, to total 85.04% of the Region. The area of severe drought (D2) is constant at 69.52% of the Region. Again this week, the area of exceptional drought (D4) increased this week mainly in southeastern Colorado and southwestern Kansas where precipitation levels are less than 50% of normal for the year. The bright spot this week is another 5% reduction in the extreme drought (D3) area of the Region. The reductions occurred in several states including northeastern Colorado, southwestern South Dakota, and northeastern Wyoming. In Wyoming D3 area was reduced by half, totaling 15.09% this week. The western portion of Kansas continues to improve. Along the Kansas-Missouri the area of D1 continues to be upgraded to an abnormally dry (D0) condition. There is even a small area along the border that is no longer rated in any category. This is the first time since early June of last year that an area in Kansas has been free of any drought or abnormally dry condition. In North Dakota less than 50% of the state is in an abnormally dry condition and of that only 18.67% is in a D1 or worse type condition. 

To learn more about the U.S. Drought Monitor, please see: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Check out the table below for the drought conditions over the past month for the High Plains Region.

To view statistics of the High Plains Region and each state check out the Tabular Statistics here:http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_highplains.htm