Weekly High Plains Drought Update - October 18, 2018

It was a cold week in the High Plains, with some areas receiving their first snow of the season.  According to this week’s U.S Drought Monitor, improvements continued to be made to several areas in drought. Eastern Kansas saw the removal of severe drought (D2) conditions and the shrinkage of moderate drought (D1) conditions. In South Dakota, D2 conditions were removed along with reductions to D1 and abnormally dry (D0) conditions. North Dakota saw reductions in all drought categories that were present throughout the state after receiving moderate snowfall. In Colorado, mountain snowpack, as well as rainfall across the southeastern part of the state, greatly improved conditions with areas of the state seeing reductions in D0-D3 categories.

The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook favors above-normal temperatures for most of the High Plains region. However, increased chances for below-normal temperatures are present in eastern Kansas. Above-normal precipitation is favored for most of the High Plains. The 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast indicates the likelihood of precipitation in the southern High Plains with the greatest amounts expected in southern Kansas.

The winter outlook that was just released by NOAA indicates increased chances for above-normal temperatures for the High Plains region. Chances for below-normal precipitation are present in northern Wyoming, northwest South Dakota, and western North Dakota. Chances for above-normal precipitation are present in southern Colorado. Drought conditions are likely to persist in the Dakotas and central Colorado, while conditions are likely to improve in southern Colorado and eastern Kansas.