Drought map shows signs of less stress in Plains
This U.S. Drought Monitor continues to show improvement in drought-related conditions across multiple areas.
The Midwest (Iowa and Minnesota), central and northern Plains (Kansas, Nebraska, Dakotas, and eastern Montana), southern Plains (Texas), and in the Desert Southwest (New Mexico) were among those. During the past week, the most significant rainfall accumulations were observed across areas of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota, where they ranged from 3 to 7+ inches.
In the South, drought conditions continued to improve in western portions of Texas as well as in areas of eastern New Mexico where monsoonal storms have provided some minor relief to areas experiencing long-term drought. In the West, conditions continued to deteriorate across areas of the Intermountain West (Wyoming and Colorado), while areas of eastern Montana saw improvement in drought in response to precipitation events during the past few weeks.
In terms of reservoir storage in the West, California’s major reservoirs continue to be at or above historical averages for the date (July 29), with the state’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Shasta and Lake Oroville, at 105% and 116% of average, respectively. In the Southwest, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is reporting (July 27) Lake Powell at 32% full (46% of average), Lake Mead at 31% full (51%), and the total Colorado system at 39% of capacity (compared to 44% of capacity the same time last year).
The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (Map courtesy of NDMC.)
South
Improvements were made in areas of south Texas and the Trans Pecos region of Texas in response to above-normal precipitation during the past 30 to 120 days.
In these regions, improvements were made in numerous drought categories (D1-D3). In other areas of the region, degradations occurred in southwestern Oklahoma, northern Mississippi, and central Tennessee, where rainfall has been below normal during the past 30- to 60-day period.
Average temperatures were above normal in the eastern and northern areas of the region, with anomalies ranging from 2 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit. Conversely, the western extent of the region, including areas in the southern half of Texas, experienced temperatures ranging from 1 to 4 degrees F below normal.
Midwest
Another week with scattered shower activity across drought-affected areas of the region led to continued improvements on the map from Minnesota to Ohio.
Rainfall accumulations ranged from 1 to 5 inches, with the heaviest amounts observed in isolated areas including northern Missouri, eastern Iowa and southern Minnesota. On the map, improvements were made in Minnesota and Iowa. Average temperatures were above normal (2 to 10 degrees) across the region.
High Plains
Improvements continued from Kansas to North Dakota after another week of scattered shower activity with light-to-moderate accumulations.
During the past 30 days, drought-related conditions have improved significantly in northern Kansas, eastern Nebraska, southeastern and southwestern South Dakota, and southwestern North Dakota as evidenced in a variety of drought monitoring products including streamflows, soil moisture, and vegetation health indicators. However, conditions have degraded in other parts of the region, including central South Dakota and northern North Dakota.
Average temperatures were generally above-normal average (1 to 6 degrees) across the region, with eastern portions experiencing the largest departure, while far western portions of the Dakotas observed temperatures 1 to 4 degrees below normal.
West
Generally dry conditions prevailed over much of the region except for some isolated shower activity in eastern New Mexico, eastern Colorado and Montana. Degradations were made across areas of the Intermountain West (Wyoming and Colorado).
In the Pacific Northwest, streamflow activity continues to be well below normal levels across the mountain ranges western Montana.
Similarly, poor surface water conditions were present in many streams and rivers of western Wyoming, western Colorado and northern New Mexico. Average temperatures were below normal across most of the region, with anomalies ranging from 2 to 10+ degrees.
Looking ahead
The NWS Weather Prediction Center 7-Day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast calls for generally dry conditions across much of the western U.S. except for some light shower activity (accumulations generally less than an inch) across areas of the Rockies (Montana, Wyoming and Colorado) and mountain ranges of New Mexico.
East of the Rockies, light-to-moderate accumulations (ranging from 1 to 4 inches) are expected across areas of the Plains states with the heaviest accumulations expected in western Oklahoma.
The Climate Prediction Center’s 6- to 10-day outlooks call for a moderate-to-high probability of above-normal temperatures across the Desert Southwest, southeastern portions of the Intermountain West, Plains, Midwest, and South.
In terms of precipitation, there is a low-to-moderate probability of above-normal precipitation across the Pacific Northwest, northern portions of the Intermountain West and northern Plains’ midwest section. Elsewhere, below-normal precipitation is expected across the southern half of the western U.S., southern Plains and Texas.
David Simeral is with the Western Regional Climate Center.
