February 2018 Climate Summary Now Available

Cold Conditions Round Out the Winter Season

The last month of the winter season was cold for most of the High Plains region, particularly in the western Dakotas where temperatures ranged from 10.0-15.0 degrees F (5.6-8.3 degrees C) below normal. The cooler temperatures led to several locations breaking records, including Chadron, Nebraska and Rapid City, South Dakota, which had their coolest Februarys on record. Areas of North Dakota and Wyoming made the list of top 10 coolest Februarys as well. The last time record-breaking, below-normal monthly average temperatures were widespread throughout the High Plains was August 2017. Areas that were cold and wet had a snowy month, such as North Platte, NE, Pierre, SD, Rapid City, SD, and Casper, WY. However, cold and dry conditions in areas like North Dakota caused deep frost depths, which prompted concerns over possible damage to water mains.

Dryness continued in February throughout Kansas and parts of Colorado, causing drought to intensify. In Colorado, snows helped to reduce seasonal snowfall deficits, but these amounts were not enough to improve conditions. This resulted in drought intensification in the southwestern portion of the state. Mounting precipitation deficits in Kansas caused drought to further spread and intensify across the state. Topsoil moisture and winter wheat conditions were not faring well in Kansas at the end of February. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, 76 percent of the topsoil was rated short to very short, and 50 percent of the winter wheat was rated poor to very poor condition. In the Dakotas, where drought has been present in some areas since late spring 2017, producers are preparing for a possible second consecutive year of drought. For instance, the North Dakota State Water Commissioner’s Office authorized another $500,000 to be used for the Livestock Water Assistance Program, and the state will assist in hauling feed earlier and in higher quantity this year compared to last year. In western South Dakota, the primary concerns were low stock ponds, poor winter wheat conditions, and increased fire activity.

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