Weekly High Plains Drought Update - August, 16 2018

According to this week’s U.S Drought Monitor, the only improvements this week came in south-central Kansas, where abnormally dry (D0) and moderate drought (D1) conditions were trimmed after beneficial rainfall. The drought in eastern Kansas continues to worsen, with the expansion of severe drought (D2), extreme drought (D3), and exceptional drought (D4) conditions. Southeast Nebraska has experienced dryness which has prompted an expansion of D0 conditions and the introduction of D1 conditions. Western Colorado experienced the expansion of D3 conditions after continued dryness while western Wyoming saw D0 conditions expand north. Central South Dakota saw continued expansion of D0 and D1 conditions along with the introduction of D2 conditions. After a dry week in North Dakota, D0 and D1 conditions expanded and D2 conditions were also introduced.

According to the USDA’s Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, overall crop conditions did not change over the past week except for a degradation of North Dakota soybeans. Pasture conditions declined in all states. Topsoil and subsoil percentage that is short to very short also increased in all states with North Dakota seeing the greatest increase.

The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has chances for below-normal temperatures in the majority of the High Plains this week, with above-normal temperatures favored in southwestern Colorado. Chances of below-normal precipitation are present in the Dakotas. Chances for above-normal precipitation are present in Kansas, Colorado, southern Wyoming, and western Nebraska. The 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast indicates the likelihood of precipitation across most of the High Plains, with the greatest amounts expected in South Dakota and Kansas.