Nationwide
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Warm and dry conditions dominated much of the western half of the United States while some needed rain fell on portions of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and into the Northeast.
Some late summer precipitation also fell in the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico as well as along the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest. As the 2021-22 water year came to a close, the West, northern Plains and upper Midwest had the poorest recorded precipitation, while portions of the South and Southeast have recorded 110-150 percent of normal precipitation during this time.
Over the last week, temperatures were well below normal in the South and Southeast, with some areas of Alabama and Mississippi at 4-8 degrees below normal. The warmest temperatures were in the northern Rocky Mountains and into New England, where readings were 6-8 degrees above normal.
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The West
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Coastal areas from northern California to Washington as well as Arizona and western New Mexico did record some decent precipitation.
For the water year ending at the end of September, the 2021-22 period will go down as one of the driest in portions of California and Nevada, where many areas are at 50 percent or less of their normal values for the time period. Temperatures this last week were near to slightly above normal, with most places 1-2 degrees above normal for the week. Portions of central and southern Arizona continued to record much-needed rains and areas of moderate drought improved there this week, with the “L” designation being the prominent impact in most southern Arizona, where long-term hydrological issues remain.
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Some exceptional drought was removed in northeast Nevada and western Utah, while exceptional drought was expanded over western Montana. Moderate drought was intensified to severe drought in the northwest portion of Montana, while some exceptional drought was improved over northeast Montana.
The High Plains
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Almost the entire region was dry this week, with only light precipitation recorded in portions of the region. Most of the region was at or above normal for temperatures this week, with the warmest readings in the Dakotas, where temperatures were 6-8 degrees above normal. The dry weather coupled with the warm temperatures accelerated grain dry down and maturity, kickstarting harvest in the area. It also allowed for drought to both expand and intensify.
Portions of northwest North Dakota had extreme drought conditions return. Moderate and severe drought were expanded over portions of eastern Colorado, northern and southern Kansas, western and central Nebraska, southwest South Dakota and southeast Wyoming. Severe and extreme drought were also expanded over north-central Wyoming. The warm and dry conditions, especially in September, have been the catalyst for degradation over the region that has remained dry.
The South
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Temperatures for the week were cooler than normal over most of the region, with departures of 2-4 degrees below normal quite common. Portions of west Texas and the panhandles of both Oklahoma and Texas were slightly above normal for weekly temperatures. Only a few areas of Arkansas had much measurable precipitation this week, with dryness dominating the region. Winter wheat is planted into dry soils, as well as deteriorating grazing lands have many producers concerned.
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Almost all of Oklahoma had drought conditions worsen this week, with degradation being shown on moderate and severe drought conditions as well as abnormally dry regions expanding. These changes bled into northern and central Texas, where large areas of abnormally dry conditions were introduced mainly in the last 60 to 90 days. — UNL Drought Monitor
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