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High Plains Weekly Drought Update - April 2, 2020
Author: Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2020-04-02 19:37:45
Updated:
According to the U.S Drought Monitor, minor changes were made to drought and abnormally dry conditions in Colorado and Wyoming. Abnormally dry conditions (D0) were introduced in western Wyoming, while D0 and moderate drought (D1) conditions were expanded in south-central Colorado. On the other hand, an area of D0 conditions in northwestern Colorado and southern Wyoming was reduced.
As of April 1st, snow water equivalent (SWE) values in Colorado basins were reported as near to above median, resulting in a statewide snowpack of 107% of median. As of April 2nd, SWE values in Wyoming basins were also reported as near to above median, with the exception of the Sweetwater and Belle Fourche Basins.
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for above-normal temperatures in central and southern Kansas, central and eastern Colorado, and extreme southwestern Nebraska. Below-normal temperatures are favored across the Dakotas, northern and central Wyoming, and northern Nebraska. Above-normal precipitation is favored for Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and southern areas of South Dakota and Wyoming. The National Weather Service’s 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast predicts that scattered precipitation will occur throughout most of the High Plains, with the greatest amounts expected in eastern North Dakota.
