Drought is ramping up in the US southern Plains, but the latest seasonal drought outlook from the US Climate Prediction Center suggests it may only be temporary.
As shown on the map below, a large swath of drought improvement is expected across northern Oklahoma, much of central Kansas and into northern Iowa over the next three months.
According to the outlook, this is a wet time of the year in most of the Plains region, with 40 to 60% of the annual precipitation total typically falling during the May-July period. Further, the outlook suggests slightly enhanced chances for above-normal precipitation across most of Kansas, Nebraska, as well as South Dakota.
Any relief at this point would be welcome, although timing will be important for the winter wheat crop.
Thursday’s weekly US drought monitor said moisture conditions are rapidly deteriorating in Kansas and Oklahoma, indicating flash drought. Western Kansas has not seen precipitation in over two weeks, the monitor said, with dryness also spilling over into eastern Colorado and southern Nebraska.
The drought monitor showed over half of Kansas (53%) was being impacted by some form of drought as of Tuesday, up sharply from 29% just a week earlier. That portion of Oklahoma impacted by drought also increased, rising to near 27% as of Tuesday, versus 15% the previous week.
Winter wheat conditions in Kansas and Oklahoma are sliding amid the dryness.
In the top production state of Kansas, the crop was rated 43% good to excellent as of Sunday, down 6 points from a week earlier. The condition of the Oklahoma crop saw an even steeper fall, dropping 8 points on the week to 60% good to excellent. Just over the past two weeks alone, the Oklahoma crop has slumped 13 points.
