November 2017 Climate Summary Now Available

Warm and Dry to End the Fall Season

Warm and dry conditions occurred in November across a broad area of the High Plains region to round out the fall season. Although the month started on a cold note, average temperatures by the end of November were above normal throughout western and central portions of the region. An impressive warm-up around Thanksgiving brought temperatures that were more reminiscent of early summer than late fall and broke numerous daily temperature records. The warmth was especially notable across Colorado and Wyoming, where several locations had a top 10 warmest November on record. Widespread dryness accompanied the warmth and precipitation was abysmal, as some parts of the region recorded less than 10 percent of normal precipitation. For instance, the majority of Kansas received less than 0.25 inches (6 mm) of precipitation the entire month.

As a result of the warmth and dryness of November, a lack of snowfall was common across the region, and streamflows and topsoil moisture declined across the southern High Plains. The combination of these conditions contributed to drought spreading across portions of western Colorado and south-central Kansas, as well as the re-intensification of drought in western North Dakota where drought has been present since the early summer. Although warm temperatures caused mountain snowpack to suffer in Colorado, it fared well in the Upper Missouri Basin in Montana and Wyoming, where snowpack ended the month above average.

As we enter the winter season, it is worth noting that a La Niña has developed for the second year in a row in the Pacific Ocean. La Niña can influence winter climate in the High Plains. For instance, a colder winter is often favored in the Northern Plains, while warmer and drier conditions are more likely in the Southern Plains. However, this has not always been the case, and other climate patterns can have a greater influence on winter climate but are not as predictable. To learn more about La Niña’s influence in the Missouri Basin region, check out the link to a briefing in the Climate Outlooks section.

For more information on temperature, precipitation, and impacts from climate in November in the High Plains region, please see the link to the full PDF of the summary: https://hprcc.unl.edu/climatesummaries.php