High Plains Weekly Drought Update - September 3, 2020

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as of September 1, just over half of the High Plains region was experiencing drought (D1-D4). Conditions across Nebraska deteriorated this past week, as extreme drought (D3) was introduced in the east-central part of the state along with the expansion of severe drought (D2) and moderate drought (D1) across eastern, central, and western areas. D3 and D2 also expanded in central Wyoming and southwestern South Dakota. Other minor improvements and degradations to drought and abnormally dry conditions occurred across the region as well.

According to the September 1st USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, pasture conditions improved slightly in Colorado but degraded again in Wyoming. The percent of pastureland rated poor to very poor was 73% in Wyoming and 57% in Colorado. Soybean conditions across the High Plains were in good shape. Corn conditions were, for the most part, faring well across the region except for Colorado, where 44% of corn was rated as being in poor or very poor condition. Topsoil and subsoil moisture rated as being short to very short was above 60% in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming.
 
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for below-normal temperatures across the entire High Plains region. Increased chances for below-normal precipitation are present throughout the High Plains region except for central and northern Wyoming. The National Weather Service’s 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast predicts that some precipitation could occur across much of the region, with the greatest amounts possible in eastern Kansas.