High Plains Weekly Drought Update - December 17, 2020

Slight improvements to drought and abnormally dry conditions occurred this past week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Severe drought (D2) conditions in northeastern Wyoming were reduced after beneficial precipitation this past week. D2, moderate drought (D1), and abnormally dry (D0) conditions were all reduced in southwestern Kansas. Otherwise, drought conditions remained mostly unchanged.
 
As of December 7th, Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) values in Colorado basins were reported as below median except for the Upper Rio Grande basin, resulting in a statewide snowpack of 76% of median. The Gunnison and Yampa and White basins were below 70% of median. As of December 17^th, the majority of Wyoming basins were below median, with the Lower North Platte and South Platte basins below 25% of median.
 
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 the majority of the High Plains, except for northern North Dakota where precipitation is expected to be near normal. The National Weather Service’s 7-day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast indicates that it will be a fairly dry week for the High Plains, with precipitation expected mostly in the mountainous areas of Colorado and Wyoming.

Please note: Due to the University shutdown, this will be the last drought update of the year. Please go to https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ to view the current map. Beginning in January, our weekly drought updates will be more concise and will point to the U.S. Drought Monitor regional summary for the High Plains.