High Plains Weekly Drought Update - April 30, 2020

Warm and dry conditions this past week led to the expansion of drought and abnormally dry conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Recent dryness prompted the expansion of abnormally dry (D0) conditions in western North Dakota into central South Dakota. D0 conditions were also expanded across north-central and northwest Kansas along with southwest Nebraska. Severe drought (D2) and moderate drought (D1) conditions in eastern Colorado were expanded this past week after a lack of precipitation.

As of April 29th, snow water equivalent (SWE) values in Colorado basins were reported as near to above median in the northern basins while the southern basins were below median, resulting in a statewide snowpack of 97% of median. As of April 27th, SWE values in Wyoming basins were also reported as near to above median, with the exception of the Sweetwater, Belle Fourche, and Cheyenne basins. Statewide snowpack was 118% of median.

The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for above-normal temperatures in Colorado, Wyoming, western Nebraska, western Kansas, and extreme southwestern South Dakota. Meanwhile, chances for below-normal temperatures are present in the eastern and central parts of Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Chances for below-normal precipitation are present throughout the majority of the High Plains. The National Weather Service’s 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast predicts that precipitation will occur in most of the High Plains except for drought-stricken southwest Colorado. The greatest amounts are expected in northwest Nebraska.