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Weekly High Plains Drought Update - December 7, 2017
Author: Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2017-12-07 21:52:42
Updated:
The drought in the High Plains persists and degrades as warmer than normal temperatures were reported across a majority of the region. The U.S Drought Monitor indicated a large expansion of abnormally dry (D0) conditions that stretches from eastern North Dakota to northern Kansas. The USDM also indicated an expansion of moderate drought (D1) conditions in central North Dakota and western Colorado. On the other hand, a small area in central Montana is now free of drought and abnormal dryness.
The mountain snowpack in Wyoming continues to build, with the statewide average of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) percentage at 101%. The northern part of the state has high percentages, while the southern half of Wyoming is either around 100% or below. However, Colorado has experienced low SWE percentages due to record-breaking warm temperatures. The statewide average is 58% and the range of SWE percentages is between 87% and 24%.
The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center’s 6 - 10 day outlook favors above-normal temperatures across the High Plains. Chances for below-normal precipitation are predicted for Colorado, Kansas, southern Nebraska, western Montana, and western Wyoming, while above-normal precipitation is favored in North Dakota and northeastern South Dakota. The 7 - day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast predicts no precipitation across the High Plains, except for central Colorado, eastern North Dakota, and northeast South Dakota.
