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High Plains Weekly Drought Update - January, 31 2019
Author: Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2019-01-31 17:16:11
Updated:
Temperatures were below normal across a large portion of the High Plains during the past week, especially in the eastern Dakotas, while precipitation varied throughout the region. With these conditions, the drought depiction changed very little on the U.S. Drought Monitor, with only slight improvements to moderate (D1) and severe (D2) drought conditions in north-central Colorado due to a reassessment of conditions.
Below-normal temperatures and timely precipitation caused statewide snowpack in Colorado and Wyoming to continue to improve during the past week. The snow water equivalent (SWE) in Colorado remained above normal, while the SWE in Wyoming remained near normal.
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances of below-normal temperatures throughout the High Plains region with the Dakotas and northern Wyoming heavily favored for below-normal temperatures. Increased chances for above-normal precipitation are present throughout the High Plains region. According to the 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast, precipitation is likely in Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and northern Nebraska, along with the mountainous regions of Colorado.
