September 2-8, 2024

Author: Page Nippert

Published: 2024-09-09 00:00:00
Updated: 2026-04-27 14:44:29.99701

Temperature 

This week featured below normal temperatures for the eastern portion of the region and above normal temperatures for the western portion of the region. The coldest regions were spots in central and eastern North Dakota, southeastern Nebraska, northeastern Kansas, and a spot in southeastern Colorado reaching 4°F to 6°F below normal with some areas reaching 6°F to 8°F below normal. The warmest region was northern Wyoming reaching 6°F to 8°F above normal. 

Departure from the 1990-2020 normal temperature for the week

 

Maximum temperatures varied in the region. The warmest regions were western North Dakota, northwestern South Dakota, and northern Wyoming, reaching temperatures of 6°F to 8°F above normal with some areas reaching 8°F to 11°F above normal. The warmest temperature was 91°F at Grand Junction, Colorado which is 5°F above normal for the area. The coldest regions were southeastern Wyoming and eastern North Dakota reaching 4°F to 6°F below normal with a spot in North Dakota reaching 6°F to 8°F below normal. 

Departure from 1990-2020 normal average maximum temperature

 

Minimum temperatures varied in the region. The coldest regions were eastern Nebraska, central and Eastern Kansas, southeastern Colorado, spots in central and eastern North Dakota, and spots in central and eastern South Dakota reaching 4°F to 6°F below normal with some areas reaching 6°F to 10°F below normal. The coldest temperature was 33°F at Fraser, Colorado which is 1°F above normal for the area. Temperatures in northern Wyoming and eastern Colorado reached 6°F to 8°F above normal. 

Departure from 1990-2020 normal average minimum temperature

 

Precipitation 

Precipitation amounts varied this week, ranging from 5 percent for a majority of the region to 200 percent in southwestern Wyoming, central Colorado, and central Kansas. McPherson, Kansas received 1.98 inches of precipitation; most of this fell on the 6th.

Percent of 1990-2020 normal precipitation in the High Plains region

 

Drought continues in the region. D0 (abnormally dry) conditions were roughly the same as last week at 65 percent. In the region, South Dakota experienced the highest decrease in D0 conditions by 14 percent while Nebraska experienced the highest increase in D0 conditions by 10 percent. 

Map of the drought index in the High Plains Region