High Plains Weekly Drought Update - October 1, 2020

Continued dryness led to the expansion of drought and abnormally dry conditions across the High Plains, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Exceptional drought (D4) was introduced in west-central Colorado, while extreme drought (D3), severe drought (D2), and moderate drought (D1) all expanded from northwestern Colorado into southwestern Wyoming. D3 also expanded in eastern Colorado and the panhandle of Nebraska. D2 and D1 expanded across northwestern Kansas along with areas of Nebraska southern South Dakota. In North Dakota, D2 and D1 expanded across the northwestern and central parts of the state. Abnormally dry conditions (D0) expanded across parts of the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas. It should be noted that 93% of the region is now experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions. Other minor degradations to drought and abnormally dry conditions occurred across the region as well.
 
According to the September 29th USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, all states in the High Plains continue to have at least 25% of pastures rated as poor or very poor. Wyoming pastures were faring worst in the High Plains, with 64% of pastures rated as poor to very poor. Soybean harvest across the High Plains was ahead of the five-year average. Corn conditions were, for the most part, faring well across the region except for Colorado, where 35% of corn was rated as being in poor or very poor condition. This was rated the worst in the country. Topsoil and subsoil moisture continued to fare the worst in Colorado and Wyoming, with both states having over 70% of topsoil and subsoil moisture rated poor to very poor.
 
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation across the High Plains. The National Weather Service’s 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast indicates that much of the High Plains will be dry again over the next week.