This is Archived Content. It may not meet current accessibility standards or contain working links. It is being provided for historical, research, or recordkeeping purposes. Please Contact Us if you have any questions regarding this content or its limitations.
Weekly High Plains Drought Update - May 17, 2018
Author: Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2018-05-17 19:38:58
Updated:
This week, the High Plains experienced varied precipitation and temperatures, with ample rainfall in Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, northeastern Colorado, and southeastern Kansas. The south central area of Kansas benefited from this precipitation, as severe (D2), extreme (D3), and exceptional (D4) drought conditions were reduced in areal coverage on the U.S. Drought Monitor. Meanwhile, welcomed rainfall in northeastern Colorado improved the areas experiencing abnormally dry (D0) and moderate drought (D1) conditions. Locally heavy downpours of rainfall in northwestern South Dakota led to the removal of a small area in D0 conditions; however, just south of this area, D0 conditions expanded into Custer and Lawrence County, South Dakota. Northeastern North Dakota was degraded to D1 and D2 conditions after the region experienced below-normal precipitation during the past 30 days.
Although drought conditions improved in some major winter wheat areas, crop conditions slightly degraded in Colorado, Kansas, and South Dakota. The following are percentages of the winter wheat crop rated poor to very poor from the USDA’s Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin on May 15th: Colorado (18%), Kansas (51%), Nebraska (7%), and South Dakota (12%). Pasture and rangeland conditions degraded as well, with approximately a third of pasture conditions in Colorado, Kansas, and North Dakota reported as poor to very poor. Despite low streamflow and snowpack in Colorado this season, reservoir storage in Colorado and Wyoming were reported as above average on May 1st.
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook favors above-normal temperatures for the entire High Plains region with chances of above-normal precipitation possible in the Dakotas, eastern Kansas, the majority of Nebraska, and parts of Wyoming. The 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast indicates a likelihood of precipitation in the entire High Plains region with the greatest amounts expected in north central Nebraska and southern South Dakota.