Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Midwest Region for December 2017 – February 2018. Dated March 2018.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for Alaska and Northwestern Canada for December 2017 – February 2018; outlook for April – June 2018. Dated March 2018.
Due to the severity of drought conditions across the southern high plains, a collaboration of drought and climate experts will provide the latest information on current conditions, impacts and outlooks. In this March 16 webinar, John Nielsen-Gammon (Texas State Climatologist) will present information for the southern high plains, which includes portions of Kansas, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin December 2017 – February 2018. Dated March 2018.
A mix of conditions led to extremes this winter. Montana had its 11th wettest winter, while Kansas and Colorado had their 10th and 14th driest, respectively. Colorado also had its 10th warmest winter. Winter ended on a wet note in both upper and lower parts of the Basin. Missouri had its wettest February on record, while Montana had its 4th.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Great Lakes Region for December 2017 – February 2018. Dated March 2018.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for December 2017 – February 2018. Dated March 2018.
Temperatures were well above normal in the Southwest: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada all had top-10 warmest December-February on record. Dry conditions dominated the Southwest as well: California, Nevada, and Utah had bottom-10 driest December-February on record.
NIDIS is partnering with the Physical Sciences Division of the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory to examine the causes, predictability, and historical behavior of this and other droughts over the Northern Plains. Drought in the Northern Plains is understudied relative to other regions of the United States, and this study will help to lay a foundation of understanding of what aspects of the region’s droughts are predictable.
The Northern Plains drought started in the spring and summer of 2017 and sparked widespread wildfires and compromised water resources, leading to the destruction of property, livestock losses, and reduced agricultural production. These impacts were felt in South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, by the tribes of the Northern Plains, and in the Canadian Prairies. NIDIS and partners will be looking back at the 2017 drought through two lenses: how can we improve drought early warning and how can we improve preparedness and response to lessen the impact of drought.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Northeast Region for December 2017 – February 2018. Dated March 2018.
A storm from December 9 to 10 dropped up to 11 inches of snow on the region. While impacts were limited to flight delays and slick roads, it provided the first measurable snow and first inch of snow for more than a dozen major climate sites.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Southeast Region for December 2017 – February 2018. Dated March 2018.