Temperature

This week featured above normal temperatures for a majority of the region. The warmest regions were central South Dakota and southeastern Wyoming reaching 6°F to 10°F above normal. The coldest regions were central and eastern North Dakota, western Wyoming, and northwestern Colorado reaching 0°F to 4°F below normal.

Maximum temperatures were above normal for most of the region. Southwestern North Dakota, western South Dakota, eastern Wyoming, western and southern Nebraska, central and eastern Colorado, and central and western Kansas reached temperatures 6°F to 8°F above normal, with some areas reaching 8°F to 11°F above normal. The warmest temperature was 102°F at Lamar Municipal Airport in Colorado which is 9°F above normal for the area. Temperatures in eastern North Dakota reached 0°F to 4°F below normal.

Minimum temperatures were 0°F to 3°F above normal for most of the eastern half of the region and 0°F to 3°F below normal for the western half. Northcentral South Dakota and the southeastern corner of Wyoming reached 9°F to 16°F above normal. Southcentral South Dakota reached 9°F to 12°F below normal. The coldest temperature was 37°F in Fraser, Colorado which is 2°F below normal for the area.

Precipitation

Precipitation amounts varied this week, ranging from 5 percent for a majority of the region to 200 percent in southcentral North Dakota, eastern South Dakota, central Kansas, a spot in northcentral Wyoming, and a spot in eastern Nebraska. Brookings, South Dakota received 4.14 inches of precipitation, well above their normal of 0.11 inches; most of this fell on the 1^st.

Drought continues in the region. D0 (abnormally dry) conditions increased from 42 percent to 51 percent. Each state in the region saw an increase in D0 conditions with Kansas experiencing the highest increase of 31 percent.

Severe Storms

Colorado and Nebraska received hail 1.5 to 1.75 inches in diameter and 1 to 2 inches in diameter respectively. South Dakota received hail 1 to 2.75 inches in diameter. Kansas and North Dakota received hail 1 to 4 inches in diameter and 1 to 4.5 inches in diameter respectively.