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High Plains Weekly Drought Update - January 9, 2020
Author: Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2020-01-09 19:41:50
Updated:
Drought and abnormally dry conditions improved during the past week in Colorado and Wyoming. Snowfall in the mountainous areas of western Wyoming led to the removal of abnormally dry (D0) conditions in portions of this region. In southwest Colorado, an increase in snowpack led to a one-category improvement from severe drought (D2) to moderate drought (D1) conditions. The rest of the High Plains remained unchanged.
Snow water equivalent (SWE) values in Colorado were reported as above median, resulting in a statewide snowpack of 113% of median. The majority of basins in Wyoming reported SWE values of near or above median, with the state as a whole at 109% of median.
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for below-normal temperatures throughout the High Plains. Increased chances for above-normal precipitation are also present throughout the High Plains except for drought-stricken areas of southeast Colorado and southwest Kansas. The 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast predicts that precipitation will occur throughout most of the High Plains with the greatest amounts expected in southeast Kansas.
