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High Plains Weekly Drought Update - March 19, 2020
Author: Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2020-03-19 18:57:43
Updated:
According to the U.S Drought Monitor, no changes were made to drought conditions across the High Plains this week. To date, February precipitation was running about 50% of normal in areas of eastern Colorado, western Kansas, and southwestern Nebraska that have been experiencing drought or abnormally dry conditions.
As of March 19th, snow water equivalent (SWE) values in Colorado basins were reported as near to above median, resulting in a statewide snowpack of 104% of median. As of March 16th, SWE values in Wyoming basins were also reported as near to above median, with the exception of the Sweetwater Basin.
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for below-normal temperatures in western and central North Dakota, Wyoming, western Colorado, and western South Dakota. Kansas and the majority of Nebraska are favored to experience above-normal temperatures. Increased chances for above-normal precipitation are present throughout most of the region except for southern portions of Kansas and southeastern Colorado. The 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast predicts that precipitation will occur in all states, with the greatest amounts expected in the mountains of Colorado and eastern Nebraska.
