Weekly High Plains Drought Update - June 28, 2018

It was a cooler than normal week for much of the High Plains region, with pockets of heavy precipitation in several states. Heavy rains fell on the drought stricken areas in Kansas and southern Nebraska, prompting improvements on the Drought Monitor. In southern Kansas, areas of extreme drought (D3), severe drought (D2), moderate drought (D1), and abnormally dry (D0) conditions were reduced. North-central Kansas and southeast Nebraska also benefitted from this rain, as reductions to D1 and D0 conditions were made. D0 conditions were also removed from southeast South Dakota and from Meade County in western South Dakota. However, degradations in drought conditions occurred this week as well. Exceptional drought (D4) and D3 conditions expanded in southwest Colorado, while D3 and D2 conditions in central Colorado expanded northward. Eastern Kansas has experienced continued precipitation deficits out to 1-3 months and out to 9 months in northeast Kansas, which has prompted expansion of D2, D1, and D0 conditions.

After much-needed precipitation in Kansas and Nebraska, topsoil moisture greatly improved this week with Nebraska seeing a 21% decrease and Kansas experiencing a 24% decrease in topsoil moisture rated short to very short. Nebraska also saw an 11% increase in surplus topsoil moisture. Despite the heavy rainfall, the percent of corn that was rated poor to very poor rose from 6% to 13% in Kansas this week. Pasture conditions improved in South Dakota but degraded slightly in Wyoming and Colorado.

The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook favors above-normal temperatures for the High Plains region with the greatest likelihood occurring throughout Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and southeast North Dakota. Chances for above-normal precipitation are present in North Dakota, northern South Dakota, and western Colorado while below-normal precipitation is favored for Kansas, Nebraska, much of Wyoming, eastern Colorado, and southern South Dakota. The 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast indicates a likelihood of precipitation for the eastern portion of the High Plains region, with the greatest amounts expected in North Dakota.