Nationwide
[inline_image file=”67e896a1cf2fd4b57527d4f90c2259d3.jpg” caption=”20201006_usdm.jpg”]
The week’s temperatures were below average over much of the nation with departures of 5-10 degrees below normal for many locations. The West continued to be warm, with temperatures near normal to slightly above through the Rocky Mountains and 5-10 degrees above average on the West Coast.
Precipitation amounts were greatest over the eastern seaboard, with the Northeast recording the most rain. Almost no rainfall was recorded in the western two-thirds of the country.
In the next several days, all eyes will be on Hurricane Delta and where it will make landfall along the Gulf Coast. Current projections are taking the storm ashore in Louisiana.
The West
[inline_image file=”ec84dfb11227d69239065ca16b6d6853.jpg” caption=”20201006_West_trd.jpg”]
Hot and dry continues to be the region’s theme and the monsoon season that was minimal at best, providing the conduit for continued deterioration in the region. Over the last six months, Arizona and California have had their warmest April–September period in 126 years, with New Mexico and Nevada the 2nd warmest. During that same 6-month period, Utah and Arizona have also had their driest period ever, with New Mexico having their 2nd and Colorado their 3rd driest.
In Arizona, the newly established record for statewide precipitation was more significant than 2 inches drier than the previous record. In southern Arizona, extreme and exceptional drought also expanded in coverage. During the current week, temperatures were warmest along the coast, where departures were 5-10 degrees above average for the week.
Drought intensified and expanded over southeast Montana and northwest Wyoming were moderate, severe, and extreme drought all increased in coverage. A new area of moderate drought was introduced in southwest Wyoming and into southeast Idaho.
Western Colorado and eastern Utah had large expansions of exceptional drought, which also went into northwest New Mexico. Extreme drought also expanded over north-central Colorado. Western and northern New Mexico, as well as northeast Arizona, had severe and extreme drought expansion. In contrast, a new area of extreme drought was introduced in eastern portions of New Mexico.
In Idaho, abnormally dry conditions and moderate drought expanded over the southeast and southwest portions of the state as well as into southeast Oregon. Central and northeast Oregon also had an expansion of severe and extreme drought this week.
The High Plains
[inline_image file=”7e47e18ed800c78123dc9b337738a4e2.jpg” caption=”20201006_High_Plains_trd.jpg”]
Cooler than normal temperatures dominated the eastern half of the region with departures of up to 6-8 degrees below normal while the western half was warmer than average with departures of 4-6 degrees above normal. Precipitation was almost none existent in the region for the week, with only a few areas of light showers in portions of South Dakota and Nebraska.
Moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions were expanded in portions of eastern North Dakota. In eastern, southwest and central Nebraska, severe drought expanded along with some expansion of moderate drought. Moderate, severe, and extreme drought also expanded in western Nebraska as the entire state continues to dry out.
In South Dakota, moderate drought was expanded in the northwest while severe drought was expanded in the southeast. A new area of extreme drought was also introduced in southeast South Dakota. Extreme drought was introduced in far southwest South Dakota while moderate drought also expanded to the east.
In northeast Wyoming, moderate drought expanded while severe drought grew slightly in the southeast.
Eastern Colorado had a large expansion of extreme drought conditions while severe drought expanded in the northeast.
[inline_image file=”e9607a017bc80e5b210de35e4f2e2565.png” caption=”Pasture Oct 8.PNG”]
[inline_image file=”e65c9dbce07aa4c3654efd1d056d617b.jpg” caption=”MAP-Haying and Grazing_09_24_2020.pdf”]
