Drought Information Statement for Tri-State Area Valid December 02, 2024 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 improved across much of the area over the past month after record precipitation. Some locations drought has also been eliminated due to snow and rain events. 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): Rawlins, Decatur, Norton, Graham, Thomas, Sheridan, Red Willow D0: Dundy, Hitchcock, Cheyenne (KS), Logan, Wallace, Sherman, Kit Carson, Cheyenne (CO), Greeley. 6am MDT Dec 02, 2024 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: Norton Drought Improved: Yuma, Kit Carson, Cheyenne (CO), Greeley, Wallace, Sherman, Cheyenne (KS), Dundy, Hitchcock, Rawlins, Thomas, Logan, Wichita, Gove, Sheridan, Red Willow, Graham Image Caption: U.S. Drought Monitor 4-week change map valid 6am MDT Dec 02, 2024 Precipitation Northern and eastern portions of the area continue to have seen the most precipitation as of late. Although recent rainfall will help more of the area to become more normal. This was also the wettest November in history for Goodland with 3.35 inches, Hill City with 3.84 inches and the 3rd wettest for Burlington with 2.99 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: Dec 02 2024 Temperature Below normal temperatures were observed for eastern Colorado due to the lingering snowpack for the majority of the month. Some of the snowpack remains still even at the start of December! Image Captions: Right - 7 Day Temperature Anomaly Left - 30 Day Temperature Anomaly Data Courtesy High Plains Regional Climate Center. Date Valid: Dec 02 2024 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 Recent rainfall has helped alleviate fire concerns across the area. As all fuels are dormant fire weather will still be heightened on very wind and dry days or if another prolonged period of no rainfall again occurs. 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. Despite the recent rains average stream flow remains below to much normal as the rainfall was absorbed by the soil as the soil moisture before the rains was not saturated. It would probably take another rain event in the near future for stream flows to begin to trend towards normal. Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid Dec 02 2024 Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture is now above normal however after the rains. As a result this should help the winter crops assuming more precipitation can continue throughout the winter. Image Captions: Left: CPC Calculated Soil Moisture Ranking Percentile valid Right: Crop Moisture Index by Division. Weekly value for period ending Oct 26, 2024 Dec 02 2024 Fire Hazard Impacts Despite not being outlook for significant wildland fire potential the fire risk is still present as vegetation is dorman resulting in ready to burn fuels. Image Caption: Significant Wildland Fire Potential Monthly Outlook for Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. December 2024 Seven Day Precipitation Forecast As of right now there is no precipitation forecasted for the next week. The region is in a northwest flow pattern which is dependent on waves within the flow for precipitation chances. Some of these may be subtle that forecast guidance has not yet picked up on it. Image Caption: Weather Prediction Center 7-day precipitation forecast valid Sunday December 1 to Sunday December 8 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 Month DD to DD. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The remainder of the winter season does not favor above normal nor below normal when it comes to precipitation or temperatures. Part of this is due to a weak La Nina as La Ninas typically favor below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures. The weak nature of the La Nina will make temperature and precipitation more mesoscale/short term driven when events due occur. Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Precipitation Outlook. Valid December 2024 Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Where the current D1 drought is in place is forecast to see drought conditions continue. However where D0 is located is forecast to become drought free through the rest of the winter. Again this is a forecast but there are some signals that support the potential for more alleviating of the drought conditions. Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Released Valid: Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook December 2024 through February 2025 Nov 30, 2024 Rain and Snow November Events Highest Snow Amounts from early November Snow 13 SW Joes: 26.9 inches Flagler: 25 Inches 1 SSW Seibert/ 15 S Stratton/9 SSW Joes: 24 inches Precipitation Records: November 8th: Goodland (1.56 inches) breaks previous record of 0.41 inches in 1970. Hill City (1.40 inches) breaks the previous record of 1.35 inches in in 1919. Burlington (1.26 inches) broke the old record of 0.54 inches in 1970. Contact Information For feedback, comments, questions specific to the Drought Information Statement please reach out to: nws.goodland@noaa.gov