Climate Extremes in the High Plains Region

The High Plains region is known for its weather and climate extremes. The new Climate Extremes in the High Plains Region page provides a number of resources that are available to help you and your community monitor the latest conditions.






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For More Information

Colorado Climate Center

High Plains Regional Climate Center

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South Dakota State Climate Office

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High Plains Weekly Drought Update - December 17, 2020


Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
2020-12-17


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 17th, 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.

Previous Weeks

Date Title Author
Dec 17 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - December 17, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Dec 10 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - December 10, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Dec 03 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - December 3, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Nov 19 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - November 19, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Nov 12 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - November 12, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Nov 05 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - November 5, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Oct 29 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - October 29, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Oct 22 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - October 22, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Oct 15 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - October 15, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Oct 08 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - October 8, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Oct 01 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - October 1, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Sep 24 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - September 24, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Sep 17 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - September 17, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Sep 10 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - September 10, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Sep 04 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - September 3, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Aug 27 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - August 27, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Aug 20 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - August 20, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Aug 13 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - August 13, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Aug 06 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - August 6, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jul 30 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - July 30, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jul 23 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - July 23, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jul 16 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - July 16, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jul 09 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - July 9, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jul 02 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - July 2, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jun 25 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - June 25, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jun 18 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - June 18, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jun 11 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - June 11, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jun 04 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - June 4, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
May 28 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - May 28, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
May 21 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - May 21, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
May 14 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - May 14, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
May 07 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - May 7, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Apr 30 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - April 30, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Apr 23 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - April 23, 2020 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Apr 16 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - April 16, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Apr 09 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - April 9, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Apr 02 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - April 2, 2020 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Mar 26 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - March 26, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Mar 19 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - March 19, 2020 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Mar 12 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - March 12, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Mar 05 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - March 5, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Feb 27 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - February 27, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Feb 20 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - February 20, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Feb 13 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - February 13, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Feb 06 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - February 6, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jan 30 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - January 30, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jan 23 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - January 23, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jan 09 2020High Plains Weekly Drought Update - January 9, 2020 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Dec 19 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - December 19, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Dec 13 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - December 12, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Dec 06 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - December 5, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Nov 21 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - November 21, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Nov 14 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - November 14, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Nov 01 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - October 31, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Oct 24 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - October 24, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Oct 18 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - October 18, 2019 Natalie Umphlett - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Oct 10 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - October 10, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Sep 26 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - September 26, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Sep 19 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - September 19, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Sep 16 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - September 12,2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Sep 06 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - September 5, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Sep 03 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - Aug 29, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Aug 22 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - August 22, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Aug 15 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - August 15, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Aug 08 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - August 8, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Aug 01 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - August 1, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jul 25 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - July 25, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jul 18 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - July 18, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jul 11 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - July 11,2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jul 03 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - July 4, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jun 27 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - June 27, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jun 21 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - June 20, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jun 13 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - June 13, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jun 06 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - June 6, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
May 31 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - May 31, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
May 24 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - May 24, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
May 17 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - May 16, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
May 09 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - May 9, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
May 02 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - May 2, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Apr 25 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - April 25, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Apr 18 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - April 18, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Apr 12 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - April 11, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Apr 04 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - April 4, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Mar 28 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - March 28, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Mar 14 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - March 14, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Mar 07 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - March 7, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Feb 28 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - February 28, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Feb 21 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - February 21, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Feb 14 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - February 14, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Feb 07 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - February 7, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jan 31 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - January, 31 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jan 24 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - January 24, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jan 17 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - January 17, 2019 Emily Brown - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jan 10 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - January 10, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Jan 03 2019High Plains Weekly Drought Update - January 3, 2019 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Dec 20 2018High Plains Weekly Drought Update - December 20, 2018 Crystal Stiles - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Dec 13 2018High Plains Weekly Drought Update - December 13, 2018 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Dec 06 2018High Plains Weekly Drought Update - December 6, 2018 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Nov 29 2018High Plains Weekly Drought Update - November 29, 2018 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Nov 15 2018High Plains Weekly Drought Update - November 15, 2018 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center
Nov 08 2018High Plains Weekly Drought Update - November 8, 2018 Gannon Rush - High Plains Regional Climate Center

Latest Webinars and Briefings

Weekly National Drought Summary

Monthly Webinars

Quarterly Impacts and Outlooks

U.S. Drought Monitor Maps

National

Missouri Watershed

High Plains

U.S. Drought Monitor Change Maps

National - 1 Month

Missouri Watershed - 1 Month

High Plains - 1 Month

Weather and Climate Forecasts and Outlooks

National Weather Service

National Interagency Fire Center

Climate Predication Center

Climate Monitoring Resources

Temperature and Precipitation Maps

Temperature and Precipitation Graphs

Temperature and Precipitation Data

Soil Moisture

Vegetation

Evaporative Demand

Local Drought Resources

Regional

Colorado

Kansas

Nebraska

North Dakota

South Dakota

Wyoming

For More Information

Colorado Climate Center

High Plains Regional Climate Center

Kansas Climate Office

National Centers for Environmental Information

National Drought Mitigation Center

National Integrated Drought Information System

Nebraska State Climate Office

North Dakota State Climate Office

South Dakota State Climate Office

Wyoming State Climate Office

Report your drought