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September 2017 Climate Summary Now Available
Author: Crystal Stiles - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2017-10-06 19:23:08
Updated:
Heavy Rains Improve Drought Conditions
Widespread rainfall across a large portion of the High Plains brought welcomed relief to drought-stricken areas during September. In drought-stricken areas of western North Dakota and eastern Montana, September precipitation ranged from 150-300 percent of normal. As a result, pasture conditions improved and water supplies were replenished, but the rainfall came too late in the season to vastly improve row crop conditions. However, soil moisture improved across much of the region. This is particularly important going into winter as this will help ensure an ample supply during the spring. Heavy rains fell throughout parts of Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas as well, with some locations having a top 10 wettest September on record. Temperatures were also rather warm, particularly in the eastern High Plains, with departures of up to nearly 5.0 degrees F (2.8 degrees C) above normal. Locations in Wyoming, Colorado, and the Nebraska Panhandle saw their first freeze of the fall season in September.
Drought conditions across Montana sparked many wildfires this year and burned over 1 million acres. The upper-level winds transported smoke from these fires eastward and southward. The smoke was so thick over Labor Day weekend, it traveled all the way to Paris, France! The smoke reduced solar radiation and visibility and created several air quality alert days. There is even speculation that smoke might have damaged dry beans in Wyoming.
Steady winter and early spring rains across California and northern Mexico sparked an interesting phenomenon in the High Plains - a bloom of butterflies migrating across the region! According to Nebraska Extension, the climate conditions in California and northern Mexico were ideal for butterfly reproduction this year. Monarch, sulfur, and painted lady butterflies migrated in large numbers across the Plains and Midwest during September, populating pollinator gardens and bringing enjoyment to butterfly lovers. However, painted lady butterfly larvae fed on soybean pods and caused damage to the crop in some areas.
For more information on temperature, precipitation, and impacts from climate in August in the High Plains region, please see the link to the full PDF of the summary: https://hprcc.unl.edu/climatesummaries.php
