High Plains Weekly Drought Update - October 8, 2020

Dry conditions across the High Plains continued this past week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. After another week of above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation, exceptional drought (D4) and extreme drought (D3) expanded across western Colorado. D3 and severe drought (D2) spread across eastern Colorado, western and eastern Nebraska, southeastern South Dakota, and northern Wyoming. D2 and moderate drought (D1) expanded in southwestern and northwestern Wyoming along with central North Dakota. Other minor degradations to drought and abnormally dry conditions occurred across the region as well.
 
According to the October 6th USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, all states in the High Plains continued to have at least 25% of pastures rated as poor or very poor. Wyoming pastures were faring worst in the High Plains, with 70% of pastures rated as poor to very poor. Soybean harvest across the High Plains was ahead of the five-year average. Corn harvest was behind the 5-year average in Kansas, but ahead of the average elsewhere. Topsoil and subsoil moisture continued to fare the worst in Colorado and Wyoming, with both states having over 80% 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 in the Dakotas, northern Wyoming, and northwestern Nebraska. Increased chances for below-normal precipitation are present in all states except for central and eastern North Dakota. The National Weather Service’s 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast indicates that large portions of Wyoming, northwestern Colorado, and eastern areas of the Dakotas and Nebraska have the best chance for precipitation during the next week. Otherwise, the rest of the region is expected to be dry.