High Plains Weekly Drought Update - September 10, 2020

Much of the region experienced deteriorations in drought conditions this past week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Extreme drought (D3) expanded across central and northwestern Colorado, central Wyoming, and east-central Nebraska after continued dryness in these areas. Severe drought (D2) expanded in extreme northwestern Colorado, southwestern and eastern Wyoming, and portions of western, central, and eastern Nebraska. Moderate drought (D1) expanded in northern North Dakota and central Nebraska. Other minor improvements and degradations to drought and abnormally dry conditions occurred across the region as well
 
According to the September 9th USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, pasture conditions remained the same in Colorado but degraded again in Wyoming. The percent of pastureland rated poor to very poor was 77% in Wyoming and 57% in Colorado. Pasture conditions around the High Plains have been worsening due to the recent hot and dry conditions. Soybean conditions across the High Plains were generally in good shape. Corn conditions were, for the most part, faring well across the region except for Colorado, where 39% of corn was rated as being in poor or very poor condition. Topsoil and subsoil moisture were faring worst in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming.
 
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for above-normal temperatures across Colorado, Wyoming, most of Nebraska, South Dakota, southern North Dakota, and northwestern Kansas. Increased chances for below-normal precipitation are present throughout the majority of the High Plains region except for eastern Kansas and northwestern 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.