Update on Drought Conditions in the High Plains Region - November 6, 2014

The percentage of area in abnormally dry or drought conditions (D0-D4) slightly increased this past week across the High Plains region, but there were also improvements in addition to degradations. Improvements occurred mostly across Kansas in the northeastern portion of the state, although there was degradation in northwest Kansas.

The area of drought and dryness in the eastern Dakotas expanded this week. Moderate drought (D1) expanded into North Dakota, as well as filling in part of northeastern South Dakota. Abnormally dry (D0) conditions expanded further west into central South Dakota, and pockets of abnormal dryness developed in northeast and northwest North Dakota. The Dakotas have seen precipitation deficits over the past 60 days. Abnormal dryness also expanded from northwest Kansas into southwest Nebraska.

Looking ahead, it appears that it will be fairly dry across the High Plains region in the next week. Improvements in drought conditions do not look very likely.

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

To see the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook, please see the Climate Prediction Center here:http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/sdo_summary.html

To see the areas of agriculture affected by the drought, please see the USDA link: http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/Drought/AgInDrought.pdf

To see the impacts of the drought, please see the Drought Impact Reporter here: http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

Check out the table below for the drought conditions over the past 2 months for the High Plains Region.

To view statistics of the High Plains Region and each state check out the Regional Statistics here: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/MapsAndData/DataTables.aspx

  Drought Condition (Percent Area): High Plains Region