Weekly High Plains Drought Update - January 11, 2018

Warmer than normal temperatures stretched across the High Plains this past week, with temperatures reaching up to 15°F above normal in southwestern Colorado. Expansion of severe drought (D2) conditions occurred in this same area, along with an expansion of moderate drought (D1) throughout eastern Colorado. D1 conditions also expanded in western Kansas and were introduced to south central Wyoming. Conditions in south central Kansas continue to worsen, with an expansion of D2 conditions and the introduction of extreme drought (D3) after a warm and dry week.

Snowpack in Wyoming remains above 100% in northern and western portions of the state, while Colorado’s snowpack was abysmal, despite receiving some local precipitation. As of January 11th, Colorado’s Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) statewide percentage was at 60% with the southwestern river basins only slightly improving. The following are updated SWE percentages from those southwestern basins: San Miguel, Dolores, Animas, & San Juan (35%); Upper Rio Grande (33%); and Gunnison (48%).

The Climate Prediction Center's 6-10 day outlook indicates that both above-normal temperatures and precipitation are expected across the entire High Plains region. According to the 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast, the greatest amounts of precipitation are expected in northern Colorado and around Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, with lesser amounts possible across western South Dakota, central and eastern Nebraska, and northeastern Kansas.