Weekly High Plains Drought Update - July 26, 2018

Scattered precipitation and variable temperatures were observed over the High Plains this week. Cooler than normal temperatures were observed in the east, while Colorado and western Wyoming were warmer than normal. A swath of precipitation from eastern Colorado to southeastern North Dakota helped improve drought conditions. Abnormally dry (D0) and moderate drought (D1) conditions were reduced in eastern South Dakota, while severe (D2) and exceptional (D4) drought improved slightly in eastern Colorado. However, D0 conditions were introduced to central South Dakota, northern Kansas, and south central Nebraska. D2 conditions expanded in central Colorado as well, while extreme drought (D3) and D4 conditions expanded in eastern Kansas.        

According to this week’s USDA’s Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, corn and soybeans continued to fare well for the most part, with only slight degradations in Kansas and Colorado. Pastureland conditions also degraded in Colorado, while wildfires stretched across the western half of the state and flash flooding occurred in the eastern half.

The Climate Prediction Center’s 6 - 10 day outlook favors below-normal temperatures in most of the High Plains, with western Colorado favored to have above-normal temperatures. Below-normal precipitation is also favored in large portions of Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, western and southern Nebraska, and western South Dakota while eastern South Dakota has increased chances of above-normal precipitation. The 7 - day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast indicates a likelihood of precipitation across a majority of the High Plains, with the greatest amounts expected in Kansas, southwestern Nebraska, and eastern Colorado.