Drought Information Statement for Tri-State Area Valid January, 02, 2025 Issued By: NWS Goodland, Kansas Contact Information: nws.goodland@noaa.gov This product will be updated by the 5th of each month or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/GLD/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates. Drought has not worsened or improved this past month. After a wet November, a dry December was observed with some locales receiving no precipitation. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for High Plains Image Caption: Goodland County Warning Area Drought Monitor. Valid Drought intensity and Extent D1 (Moderate Drought): Red Willow, Norton, Graham, Decatur, Sheridan, Rawlins, Thomas D0: Dundy, Hitchcock, Cheyenne (KS), Sherman, Wallace, Logan, Gove 6am MDT Jan 02, 2025 Recent Change in Drought Intensity Link to the latest 4-week change map for CONUS 4 Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: No Change: Entire area where drought remains Drought Improved: Image Caption: U.S. Drought Monitor 4-week change map valid 6am MDT Jan 02, 2025 Despite the dry conditions, with most if not all vegetation in winter dormancy there is little in the way of drought change currently. However, if the dryness continues then some changes may be needed. Precipitation Most if not all of the region was below normal precipitation. Some ASOS sites in our forecast area received very little or no precipitation for the month. Goodland: 0.04 inches Burlington: 0.00 inches. The first time since 1981 no precipitation fell in Burlington in December. McCook: 0.00 inches. The last time no precipitation fell in December was 1928. Hill City: 0.02 inches Image Captions: Right - Monthly Precipitation Amount for Tri-State Area Left - Percent of Normal Monthly Precipitation for Tri-State Area Data Courtesy of National Water Prediction Center. Date Valid: Jan 02 2025 Temperature Virtually all of the High Plains saw above normal temperatures for the month of December. For Goodland, this was the 4th warmest December on record with a mean temperature of 38.1. And McCook it is the 5th warmest on December with a 36.6 mean temperature. Colder temperatures are favored for January however. Image Captions: Right - 7 Day Temperature Anomaly Left - 30 Day Temperature Anomaly Data Courtesy High Plains Regional Climate Center. Date Valid: Jan 02 2025 Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Agricultural Impacts USDA Nebraska Crop Progress and Condition Reports can be found here USDA Kansas Crop Progress and Condition Reports can be found here Fire Hazard Impacts With vegetation dormant and the dry spell of December, fire weather will be of concern. Other Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts No know impacts at this time as much of the Tri-State Area remains normal or below normal. Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid Jan 02 2025 Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture remains dry for most of the area; with the exception being across souther portions of the Goodland forecast area and into SW Kansas which may still be feeling the effects of a wet Summer and November. Image Captions: Left: CPC Calculated Soil Moisture Ranking Percentile valid Right: Crop Moisture Index by Division. Weekly value for period ending Oct 26, 2024 Jan 02 2025 Fire Hazard Impacts No concern for significant wildland fire potential at this time as outlook by the National Interagency Fire Center. However; as mentioned before with the continued dry nature of the past month and the vegetation being dormant there still remains the concern for spreading fires. Image Caption: Significant Wildland Fire Potential Monthly Outlook for Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. January 2025 Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Light precipitation chances are forecast over the next week with the relative better chances being the first weekend of January. This does appear to be in the form of wintry weather. Precipitation amounts may increase or decrease as they will be highly dependent on the track of this upcoming system. Image Caption: Weather Prediction Center 7-day precipitation forecast valid Wednesday Jan 1 to Jan 08 Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. Summarize conditions and impacts here Image Caption: Days 8 to 14 U.S. Hazards Outlook Valid Jan 09 to 15. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Through the end of March the region doesn’t have a strong signal either way for temperatures or precipitation. This means that the weather is going to be fairly short term dependent at this time. The favored below normal temperatures to the north of us however does bring my attention as there may be some instances of arctic air intrusions. Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Precipitation Outlook. Valid January 2025 Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage With no clear cut signal at this time for below or above normal temperatures; drought is forecast to persist where it already resides. Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released Valid: Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook January 2025 Dec 31, 2024 Contact Information For feedback, comments, questions specific to the Drought Information Statement please reach out to: nws.goodland@noaa.gov or tyler.trigg@noaa.gov