High Plains Weekly Drought Update - July 2, 2020

Drought conditions in southwestern Kansas and southeastern Colorado deteriorated this past week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Exceptional drought (D4) was introduced and extreme drought (D3) conditions were expanded after another week of above-normal temperatures combined with little precipitation. D3 also expanded in western Colorado. Moderate drought (D1) conditions were expanded in western North Dakota and northwestern Nebraska and was introduced in southeastern Kansas. Abnormally dry (D0) conditions were expanded in northeastern Colorado, central and northeastern Nebraska, southeastern Kansas, north-central and eastern South Dakota, and central North Dakota. Meanwhile, conditions improved from D1 to D0 in northwestern South Dakota. D0 was removed in portions of central and eastern Kansas, along with southeastern and western Wyoming.
 
According to the June 30th USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, pasture conditions remained in relatively good shape across the High Plains except for Colorado, where 39% of pastures were in poor or very poor condition. Winter wheat conditions in Colorado and Kansas continued to fare worst in the region, with 39% and 20% of winter wheat conditions rated as poor to very poor, respectively. Corn conditions are, for the most part, faring well across the region. The percentage of topsoil and subsoil moisture that was rated short to very short increased in all states except for Colorado, where topsoil moisture conditions improved slightly.
 
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for above-normal temperatures across the majority of the High Plains. However, below-normal temperatures are favored for extreme northwestern Wyoming. Increased chances for above-normal precipitation are present across North Dakota, the majority of South Dakota, and extreme northeastern Wyoming, while increased chances for below-normal precipitation are present in Colorado, Kansas, southern Nebraska, and southwestern Wyoming. The National Weather Service’s 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast predicts that precipitation will occur in all states, with the greatest amounts occurring across central and eastern North Dakota.