Weekly High Plains Drought Update - August 23, 2018

According to this week’s U.S Drought Monitor, beneficial rainfall in southeast Nebraska and eastern Kansas helped improve the ongoing drought. Southeast Nebraska saw the removal of severe drought (D2) and moderate drought (D1) conditions along with the reduction of abnormally dry (D0) conditions. In eastern Kansas, an area of exceptional drought (D4) was removed along with the reduction of extreme drought (D3), D2, and D1 conditions. Central Colorado also experienced improvements, as there was a reduction of D1 conditions. As for degradations, the drought in North Dakota continued to worsen, with D0 conditions covering the majority of the state. The area of D1 and D2 conditions in North Dakota expanded in the north-central part of the state. D0 conditions in Wyoming expanded and now covers the western border.

According to the USDA’s Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, crop conditions degraded slightly overall. Pasture, subsoil moisture, and topsoil moisture conditions improved in Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska, while conditions continued to degrade in the Dakotas and Wyoming.

The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for above-normal temperatures in the majority of the High Plains this week, with increased chances for below-normal temperatures in western Wyoming. Chances of below-normal precipitation are present in portions of Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, and Nebraska. The 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast indicates the likelihood of precipitation across most of the High Plains except for a large portion of Wyoming, with the greatest amounts expected in drought-stricken areas of eastern Kansas.