Dry conditions and sharp temperature contrasts continued to shape the drought picture across the High Plains in the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday for conditions ending Tuesday, May 12.
The eastern portions of the region remained cooler than normal during the past week, with temperatures averaging between 4 and 10 degrees below seasonal norms. At the same time, much of eastern Nebraska, South Dakota and surrounding areas received little to no meaningful rainfall, with many locations recording less than five-hundredths of an inch of precipitation.
Those dry conditions led to worsening drought in several states. The Drought Monitor expanded exceptional drought, the most severe category identified as D4, in Nebraska. Areas of moderate drought, severe drought and extreme drought also expanded across northeastern Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska and portions of Kansas.
Meanwhile, western portions of the High Plains saw a different pattern. Much of Wyoming, Colorado and western sections of Nebraska and South Dakota experienced warmer-than-normal temperatures, generally running 2 to 6 degrees above average.
That area also benefited from a more active storm track. Parts of Colorado, Wyoming and western Kansas received between seven-tenths of an inch and more than an inch and a half of rainfall during the week, which was above normal for mid-May.
The additional moisture led to drought improvements in several locations. Exceptional drought was removed in parts of Wyoming, while extreme drought coverage was reduced there as well. Colorado also saw improvements in areas ranging from severe drought to exceptional drought. Western Kansas recorded some improvement in severe and extreme drought conditions following the recent rainfall.
Despite localized improvements, much of the central High Plains continues to deal with significant long-term moisture deficits heading into the late spring growing season.
The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Map data courtesy of NDMC.