High Plains Weekly Drought Update - May 21, 2020

Drought conditions continued to intensify throughout the region this past week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Extreme drought (D3), severe drought (D2), moderate drought (D1), and abnormally dry (D0) conditions continued to expand in southwestern Colorado after above-normal temperatures occurred for the second straight week. D1 conditions were introduced in southwestern North Dakota, extending south into extreme northern South Dakota, as well as extreme southwestern Wyoming after recent dryness. D0 conditions also expanded in northeastern South Dakota, southeastern Nebraska, portions of northeastern and western North Dakota, northeastern Kansas, and northeastern Wyoming. Slight improvements to D0 conditions occurred in eastern South Dakota, northeastern Colorado, and central Kansas after recent precipitation.

According to the May 19^th USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, pasture conditions remained in fairly good shape across the High Plains except for Colorado, where 32% of pastures were in poor or very poor condition. Winter wheat continued to fare well in Nebraska and South Dakota, while conditions in Colorado continued to degrade. In Colorado, 44% of winter wheat was in poor to very poor condition, which was up 6 percent from last week. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions improved in several states; however, Colorado and Wyoming both experienced increases in the percent of topsoil and subsoil moisture that is rated short to very short.

The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for above-normal temperatures in western Colorado, southwestern Wyoming, northeastern Nebraska, and eastern South Dakota. Increased chances for below-normal temperatures are present in southern Kansas. Increased chances for above-normal precipitation are present in southeastern Kansas, while increased chances for below-normal precipitation are present in Wyoming, South Dakota, the majority of Colorado and North Dakota, and northern and western Nebraska. The National Weather Service’s 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast predicts that precipitation will occur in most of the High Plains except for western Colorado and south-central Wyoming. The greatest amounts are expected in southern Kansas.