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November 2018 Climate Summary Now Available
Author: Crystal Stiles - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2018-12-10 19:56:41
Updated:
Cool Conditions Continue, Fall Harvest Behind
The High Plains region continued to be cool in November, especially throughout eastern portions of the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas. This pattern that has prevailed since October resulted in below-normal temperatures for the fall season in these areas. While October was very wet, November was drier for most of the region, which helped with fall harvest. However, timely precipitation helped improve drought conditions across the region.
The mountain snowpack season started off well in Colorado, which was a relief for many who were concerned about having two consecutive low-snowpack seasons. In fact, several ski resorts opened early this year for the first time in 10 years. Farther north in Wyoming, snowpack got off to a slow start but was catching up by the end of November. After several months of higher-than-average releases from mainstem projects in the Upper Missouri Basin to evacuate stored floodwaters, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced in late November that they would begin reducing releases from Gavins Point Dam. The Corps plans to clear most of the stored runoff in advance of ice-up on northern portions of the river.
Wet conditions in the fall caused several impacts throughout the region. For instance, fall harvest of many crops was behind. Corn harvest was behind in much of the region, especially the Dakotas. According to the November 25th U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, North Dakota had harvested 80 percent of its corn, which was 13 percentage points behind the 5-year average. Many producers in the Dakotas were waiting for the ground to freeze before moving machinery into the fields. Although producers were able to catch up by the end of the month, the U.S. had its 3rd slowest soybean harvest on record, which goes back to 1995. In Kansas, winter wheat emergence was behind, and some wheat was damaged due to flooding. Another concern resulting from the fall wetness is spring flooding. As we enter the winter season, soils are very wet in many locations, and the moisture will get locked in until spring. Combined with spring snowmelt, the risk for spring flooding will be a concern.
For more information on temperature, precipitation, and impacts from climate in November in the High Plains region, please see the link to the full PDF of the summary: https://hprcc.unl.edu/climatesummaries.php
