High Plains Weekly Drought Update - December 3, 2020

Drought conditions in the Dakotas deteriorated this past week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Extreme drought (D3) conditions were introduced and severe drought (D2) expanded in central North Dakota. At the same time, moderate drought (D1) spread across eastern North Dakota, southern South Dakota, and north-central Nebraska. Meanwhile, beneficial precipitation led to a slight reduction of exceptional drought (D4) in central Colorado as well as a reduction of D2 and D1 in northeastern Kansas and southeastern Nebraska. Other minor improvements and degradations to drought and abnormally dry conditions occurred across the region as well.
 
According to the December 1st USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, winter wheat conditions continued to struggle in drought-stricken areas of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. Colorado is faring the worst, with 38% of wheat rated as poor to very poor. Topsoil and subsoil moisture continued to be rather depleted, with 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 above-normal temperatures throughout the High Plains. Increased chances for below-normal precipitation are present across eastern Kansas, southeastern Nebraska, southwestern Wyoming, and east-central South Dakota. Meanwhile, above-normal precipitation is favored for the majority of North Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado along with western South Dakota, western Nebraska, and northwestern Kansas. The National Weather Service’s 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast indicates that much of the High Plains will be dry over the next week.