Update on Drought Conditions in the High Plains Region - July 14, 2015

Significant rainfall with isolated hail was received over the weekend in the northeast part of North Dakota. These storms caused lodging to small grains, but it was too early to determine the extent of damage. In the same areas, some producers were burning hay because of rot caused by the persistent wet conditions. Elsewhere, warm, dry conditions benefitted the development of row crops and allowed producers to put up good quality hay. The warmest temperatures of the season were recorded late in the week for South Dakota. In the northern Plains, small areas of Abnormally Dry (D0) were eliminated in southwestern North Dakota and southeastern South Dakota. At the same time areas of Abnormally Dry were introduced in northwestern North Dakota and northeastern South Dakota in response to prolonged dryness.

Temperatures were cool during much of the week before turning hot over the weekend in Nebraska. Significant rainfall was limited to southern border counties, as well as parts of north central Nebraska and portions of the lower Panhandle.  The seasonably hot conditions boosted crop development while heat and high humidity stressed livestock. In Kansas most of the eastern portion of the State received one to three inches of precipitation. The western part of the state remained dry. Soybean emergence and growth are still behind in the state. Short-term precipitation deficits and low streamflow led to the expansion of areas of Abnormally Dry (D0) in northwestern Kansas extending just across the border into southwestern Nebraska.

Producers made significant progress in harvesting winter wheat in the midst of scattered precipitation. However, alfalfa cuttings and late season crop plantings saw modest gains due to midweek moisture events. Dry patches reportedly continued to emerge in the east and southeastern districts in response to hot, dry weather. Reporters noted a high degree of grasshopper infestation in the southeastern district. In western Colorado and southwestern Wyoming, areas of Abnormally Dry (D0) were removed in response to above-average precipitation (both short- and long-term), normal streamflow activity, and improved soil moisture.

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