High Plains Weekly Drought Update - July 23, 2020

Continued dryness led to the expansion and intensification of drought conditions in several areas, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Extreme drought (D3), severe drought (D2), and moderate drought (D1) expanded in northeastern Colorado, while D3 was introduced and D2 and D1 expanded in central Wyoming after missing precipitation this past week. D1 conditions were also expanded in eastern Kansas after continued dryness. Conversely, heavy rain fell across southeastern Colorado and southwestern Kansas, leading to reductions of D3, D2, and D1. Additionally, a large area of abnormally dry (D0) conditions was removed from western North Dakota after beneficial precipitation fell. Other slight changes were made to drought and abnormally dry conditions across the High Plains.
 
According to the July 21st USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, pasture conditions have continued to deteriorate across the High Plains. The percent of pastureland rated poor to very poor was 48% in Colorado, 41% in Wyoming, 25% in Nebraska, and 24% in Kansas. Winter wheat harvest is near the 5-year average in all states. Corn conditions are, for the most part, faring well across the region except for Colorado, where 23% of corn was rated as being in poor or very poor condition.
 
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for above-normal temperatures across Wyoming, the majority of the Dakotas, northwestern Colorado, and the panhandle of Nebraska. Meanwhile, increased chances for below-normal temperatures are present in eastern and central Kansas and southeastern Nebraska. Increased chances for above-normal precipitation are present across Kansas, southern Nebraska, the majority of Colorado, and western and central Wyoming, while increased chances for below-normal precipitation are present in North Dakota, the majority of South Dakota, eastern Wyoming, and northwestern Nebraska. The National Weather Service’s 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast predicts that precipitation will occur throughout the High Plains, with the greatest amounts expected in drought-stricken Colorado.