High Plains Weekly Drought Update - July 11,2019

Slight adjustments were made to areas experiencing drought or dryness on the U.S. Drought Monitor this past week. Moderate (D1) drought expanded slightly in north-central North Dakota, while slight improvements were made on the eastern side of the area in D1. The rest of the High Plains remained free of any dry conditions. This includes Wyoming, which is free of drought and abnormal dryness for the first time since 2011 after beneficial precipitation led to the removal of abnormally dry (D0) conditions on the western border.

According to the most recent USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, winter wheat harvest remained behind this week in several states in the High Plains region. The percent of soybeans that were blooming and the percent of corn that was silking also remained behind the 5-year average this past week. Crop conditions remained near the same compared to last week. Subsoil and topsoil moisture rated short to very short continued to increase in Colorado and Kansas this past week, while topsoil moisture conditions declined in North Dakota.

The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for above-normal temperatures throughout the entire High Plains. Increased chances of above-normal precipitation are present in North Dakota, the majority of South Dakota, and eastern portions of Nebraska and Kansas. Increased chances of below-normal precipitation are present in western Kansas, western Nebraska, eastern Colorado, and southeastern Wyoming. According to the 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast, precipitation is likely throughout the majority of the High Plains except for Kansas. The greatest amounts are expected in North Dakota and southern South Dakota.