Weekly High Plains Drought Update - October 12, 2017

This week’s Drought Monitor shows improvements in north central Montana, central Kansas, western Colorado, and southeastern South Dakota. North central Montana saw a reduction of area in severe (D2), extreme (D3), and exceptional (D4) drought conditions. Central Kansas also saw a 7% decrease in moderate (D1) drought conditions due to receiving 200% of normal precipitation this past week. Southeastern South Dakota and western Colorado saw a reduction of abnormally dry conditions as well.

Most of the High Plains experienced the first freeze of the fall season this past week, which essentially ended the growing season in the region. The percent area of corn rated poor to very poor dropped by 1% in Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. However, heavy rains improved pasture conditions in many states. The following are updated percentages of pastureland in poor or very poor condition: Kansas (16%), Montana (66%), Nebraska (16%), South Dakota (54%), and Wyoming (24%).

The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center’s 6 - 10 day outlook forecasts a chance of above-normal temperatures for most of the High Plains, with extreme western Montana having a chance for below-normal temperatures. Below-normal precipitation will be likely in Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, eastern Colorado, and eastern Wyoming. In western Wyoming and western Montana, above-normal precipitation is favored. The 7 - day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast is predicting up to an inch of rainfall for eastern Kansas, southeastern Nebraska, western Montana, and western Wyoming while the rest of the High Plains will likely see below a half inch, if any precipitation occurs.