Nationwide
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The current U.S. Drought Monitor period was highlighted by a large swath of heavy rain in northeast Texas and progressed northeast into the Mid-Atlantic. In this area, widespread reports of 200-400 percent of average precipitation took place, with some areas of Kentucky having widespread 6-8 inch amounts.
Dry conditions dominated much of the West and especially the Southwest and into the Plains. Some active weather in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mountains brought rain and snow, helping to boost seasonal snow totals.
Temperatures during the week were cooler than normal over the West with departures of 6-9 degrees below normal widespread, while temperatures were above average from the Plains eastward with departures of 9-12 degrees above average over much of Alabama.
The West
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Dry conditions dominated areas from California to New Mexico with just a few pockets of above-normal precipitation over central Colorado, central Wyoming, the Pacific Northwest, and northern Montana.
Temperatures were cooler than usual over much of the region, with much of the Great Basin and into Wyoming recording temperatures 9-12 degrees below normal. After a good month of precipitation along with the most recent precipitation in the area, many areas of Oregon saw improvements to the drought status, with long-term issues still being monitored.
Much of California is enduring its second consecutive dry winter, with most areas below 75 percent of average snowpack for this time of year. Many water agencies discussed water conservation measures, with the North Marin Water District considering both voluntary and mandatory water conservation orders. Moderate drought was expanded over areas of southern California, where drought is beginning to develop again after a relatively dry winter.
Improvements to abnormally dry, moderate and severe drought conditions were made in Idaho, while abnormally dry conditions were improved over western Montana. Eastern Montana conditions continued to deteriorate with an expansion of moderate and severe drought this week.
A recent winter storm in and around the Denver metro area and areas to the west allowed for improvements to the extreme drought conditions there as snow totals for the current water year were up over 100 percent.
The High Plains
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Dry conditions dominated the region, with only portions of central South Dakota, central and eastern North Dakota, portions of the High Plains in eastern Colorado and central Wyoming recording above-normal precipitation.
Temperatures were above normal over most of the area, with below-normal temperatures farther west into Wyoming and Colorado. The most significant departures were in eastern South Dakota, where temperatures were 6-9 degrees above normal and northwest Wyoming, where temperatures were 12-15 degrees below normal for the week.
Improvements were made in north-central Wyoming, where areas of extreme and severe drought showed a good snow season to reduce drought intensity. Severe drought was expanded in far northeast North Dakota and into far northwest Minnesota.
The South
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There was a contrast in temperatures over the region; west Texas and Oklahoma were below normal, while areas of southern Mississippi were greater than 10 degrees above average for the week.
Heavy rains fell from northeast Texas through much of southern Arkansas, northern Mississippi, and all of Tennessee this week, with areas from southern Arkansas to western Tennessee recording 400 percent of normal precipitation. Dry conditions dominate most of Oklahoma and the central, southern, and western portions of Texas. Improvements were made to the moderate drought over northeast Texas and southeast Oklahoma this week. A reassessment was done over southwest Oklahoma, removing the lingering extreme drought there. Exceptional drought was removed over far west Texas as the El Paso area had recorded enough precipitation to improve intensity. Much of Texas saw degradations with dryness, especially over the last four months, dominating the indicators.
Coupled with the dryness, the recent cold snap also has impacted winter wheat. The regional agronomist states that the drought has probably caused more loss to winter wheat across the region than the current weather events. Early estimated losses from the recent winter storm are at least $600 million, with $230 million in damages to citrus, $228 million to livestock, and $150 million to vegetable crops in Texas.
An area of extreme drought was added in the far western panhandle of Oklahoma, bridging a gap where extreme drought was being depicted in both New Mexico and Colorado. —UNL Drought Monitor
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