High Plains Weekly Drought Update - February 28, 2019

After a reevaluation of precipitation in the past 60 days, the U.S. Drought Monitor author made improvements to drought conditions in the High Plains on the weekly map. The abnormally dry (D0) conditions that were present in northern North Dakota were completely removed, while in Wyoming, the moderate drought (D1) in the western and southern parts of the state was reduced in areal coverage. Colorado experienced the most improvement this week, with reductions of D0, D1, severe drought (D2), and extreme drought (D3) conditions throughout the state. Also, the exceptional drought (D4) that has been present in southern Colorado since April 2018 was finally completely removed from the area.

Statewide snowpack in both Wyoming and Colorado remained above normal, with near-normal Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) in the majority of Wyoming’s basins, as well as above-normal SWE in all of Colorado’s basins.

The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances of below-normal temperatures throughout nearly all of the High Plains, with the exception of the extreme southwestern corner of Colorado, which has increased chances of above-normal temperatures. Increased chances for above-normal precipitation are present throughout most of the High Plains, while below-normal precipitation is favored in northern North Dakota. According to the 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast, precipitation is likely throughout a majority of the High Plains, with the highest amounts expected in western Colorado.