High Plains Weekly Drought Update - August 13, 2020

While spotty precipitation improved drought conditions in some areas, conditions worsened in others, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Extreme drought (D3), severe drought (D2), and moderate drought (D1) expanded in western and central Colorado after another dry week. D2 and D1 both expanded in southeastern Wyoming and western Nebraska. D2 also expanded in northeastern Nebraska. Meanwhile, slight improvements to areas in D3 occurred in southern Colorado. Improvements also occurred in small areas of the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas Other minor changes to drought and abnormally dry conditions occurred across the High Plains.
 
According to the August 11th USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, pasture conditions improved in several states but continued to degrade in Wyoming and Colorado. The percent of pastureland rated poor to very poor was 59% in Wyoming and 43% in Colorado. Winter wheat harvest is ahead of the 5-year average in all states and nearly completed. Corn conditions are, for the most part, faring well across the region except for Colorado, where 37% of corn was rated as being in poor or very poor condition. Soybeans are faring well across the region.
 
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for above-normal temperatures across Wyoming, most of Colorado, western Nebraska, and the western portions of the Dakotas; meanwhile, increased chances for below-normal temperatures are present across the majority of Kansas, southeastern Nebraska, and southeastern South Dakota. Increased chances for below-normal precipitation are present across the entire High Plains. The National Weather Service’s 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast predicts that some precipitation will occur in all states, with the greatest amounts expected in north-central Kansas.