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High Plains Weekly Drought Update - November 5, 2020
Author: Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Published: 2020-11-05 00:00:00
Updated: 2020-11-05 19:19:04.661451
Recent precipitation greatly aided in the improvement of drought and abnormally conditions in the southern High Plains, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. In southern Kansas, severe drought (D2), moderate drought (D1), and abnormally dry (D0) conditions were reduced after a storm system brought heavy rainfall to the area. Extreme drought (D3) and D2 conditions were both reduced in south-central Colorado as well. However, after missing precipitation this past week, exceptional drought (D4) conditions were expanded in northwestern Colorado into southern Wyoming. D2 and D1 conditions both spread across southern Nebraska and northern Kansas. Other minor improvements and degradations to drought and abnormally dry conditions occurred across the region as well.
According to the November 3rd USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, soybean and corn harvest across the High Plains remained ahead of the five-year average, and Nebraska and North Dakota wrapped up soybean harvest this week. Winter wheat conditions continued to struggle in drought-stricken areas of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska, with over 20% of wheat rated as poor to very poor. Despite improvements from recent precipitation, more than 50% of topsoil and subsoil moisture rated short to very short in all High Plains states.
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day outlook has increased chances for below-normal temperatures throughout the entire High Plains. Increased chances for above-normal precipitation are present across eastern and central portions of Kansas and Nebraska, extreme southeastern South Dakota, and western and central portions of Wyoming and Colorado. Meanwhile, increased chances for below-normal precipitation are present in North Dakota, the majority of South Dakota, western Nebraska, and the northeastern portions of Wyoming and Colorado. The National Weather Service’s 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast predicts some precipitation will fall in all states, with the greatest amounts expected in southwestern Colorado, southeastern Nebraska, and northeastern Kansas.
