Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin September – November 2019. Dated December 2019.

Extreme temperature swings were masked by what was, overall, a largely near-normal autumn.The wet pattern continued across the northern tier of the Missouri River Basin. Overall, autumn 2019 was one of the wettest on record for North Dakota (wettest), South Dakota (5th), Iowa (6th), and Montana (11th).  ​

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for September – November 2019.  Dated December 2019.

Autumn temperatures were well below normal across the northern tier of the region while near to above normal temperatures were observed across California and the Southwest.  Several areas of the West reported below normal autumn precipitation including northern California, eastern Utah, and western Colorado. Montana, northern Wyoming, northwestern Utah, and the Southwest reported above normal precipitation.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for June – August 2019.  Dated September 2019.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin June – August 2019. Dated September 2019.

This summer, temperatures were largely near normal; however, minimum temperatures were slightly above normal, while maximum temperatures were below normal. Meanwhile, extremes in precipitation occurred across the region. This summer's wet conditions were a further continuation of a generally wet pattern that has been in place since last year.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin March – May 2019. Dated June 2019.

Average temperatures generally ranged from 2-8°F below normal, with the greatest departures in the upper Basin.  Precipitation, on the other hand, was extreme, with spring totals exceeding 150% of normal in many areas.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for March – May 2019.  Dated June 2019.

Spring temperatures were variable across the West.  The North Pacific storm track remained active through the spring season bringing above normal precipitation to much of the West.

This publication is a summary of the original 72-page report. To learn more about the 2017 U.S. Northern Plains and Canadian Prairies drought, analysis, and mitigation efforts, download a copy of the full report (high resolution PDF , low resolution PDF)

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin December 2018 – February 2019. Dated March 2019.

With a warm start and a cold end, average temperatures for the winter were only slightly below normal across the Missouri River Basin. Persistent cold, along with frequent snowstorms during the latter half of winter, allowed the snowpack to build across the Plains.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for December 2018 – February 2019.  Dated March 2019.

Persistent stormy conditions helped to maintain near-to-below normal temperatures across much of the West this winter.  Abundant precipitation and moderate temperatures helped alleviate drought conditions in large areas of the West.