Combines and tractors with planters were spotted in the fields last month as dry conditions helped fieldwork progress (including harvest and winter wheat planting). While November was predominantly dry for many, some rainy days helped drought conditions that lingered in portions of the Plains.
Looking back, November also included a range of temperatures with some mild days and some days where the cold sunk in. There were even some hot days to contend with as Goodland, Kansas, and Borger and Austin, Texas, set monthly records for the heat early on in the month as temperatures hit 87, 91, and 93 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. Several record daily highs were also set in the Plains during November.
El Niño conditions were still present and are likely to remain for the next several months. The latest forecasts reflect the possibility of El Niño remaining through the spring. Forecasters are watching to see just how strong of an El Niño this will be with some long-term models hinting at a stronger event. It’s important to note that a historically stronger El Niño doesn’t necessarily mean stronger impacts, but rather a higher chance of seeing impacts from El Niño conditions.
Looking into the future, December is expected to include above seasonal precipitation from far western Oklahoma into western and central Kansas and stretching into Nebraska. The eastern part of Texas will also likely see precipitation totals come in higher than we would typically see for December.
That trend is expected to continue the next several months for Nebraska. All of Kansas and Oklahoma along with eastern and central Texas are forecast to see precipitation above seasonal norms through February as well.
During that same time, near normal temperatures are forecast for northern Texas, central and western Oklahoma and western Kansas.
I’m always keeping an eye to the sky (and the weather patterns), so watch for January’s update.
Editor’s note: Regina Bird grew up on a farm near Belleville, Kansas. The views from the farm helped spur her interest in weather. Following high school, she went on to get a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from the University of Kansas. She worked as a television meteorologist for nine years in Nebraska. Follow her on Twitter: @ReginaBirdWX
