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High Plains Weekly Drought Update - November 14, 2019
Author: Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2019-11-14 19:43:29
Updated:
The majority of the High Plains was cooler than normal this past week, with less than 0.5 inches of precipitation across most of the region. As depicted in this week’s U.S. Drought Monitor, areas of moderate (D1) and severe (D2) drought conditions were expanded in western Kansas and southern Colorado. However, snow fell in north central Colorado, which led to a reduction in abnormally dry (D0) and D1 conditions in the area.
According to SNOTEL sites in Colorado, the water year has started off with near to above-normal snow water equivalent (SWE) values. For instance, this week’s statewide SWE for Colorado was 94% of median while Wyoming’s state SWE was 145% of median.
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for above-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation throughout most of the High Plains. The 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast indicates that precipitation is likely in North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and the eastern parts of Kansas and Nebraska, with the highest amounts expected in the mountainous areas of Wyoming.
