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The Workshop for Building Drought Resilience in a Changing Climate with Upper Columbia and Missouri Basin Tribes was convened in September 2023 with an overarching goal of strengthening relationships between Tribal Nations, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and their partners across the region.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin for December 2023–February 2024. Dated March 2024.
In typical El Niño fashion, temperatures were well above normal for the region. North Dakota recorded its warmest winter on record, while the majority of the region ranked in the top 5. Precipitation was above normal for the southern and eastern parts of the basin, while the northwestern portions were below normal.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Canadian and U.S. Prairies and High Plains for December 2023–February 2024, with an outlook for April–June 2024. Dated March 2023.
The Prairies and High Plains saw warmer than normal temperatures, with the eastern half notably warmer than the rest of the region. Much drier than normal conditions were observed across the region in the bordering states and provinces, including inland areas such as the northern Prairies, parts of Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Canadian and U.S. Prairies and High Plains for September–November 2023, with an outlook for January–March 2024. Dated December 2023.
The Prairies and High Plains generally experienced warmer fall conditions, except the area that borders Montana and the Dakotas. Precipitation was well below normal for much of the Prairies, with parts of central Alberta receiving less than 30% of its seasonal amount.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin for September–November 2023. Dated December 2023.
Warmer temperatures dominated the region, with cooler temperatures arriving for short periods at the end of October and November. Minimum temperatures were well above normal throughout the entire region this fall. After above-normal precipitation in September and October in parts of the basin, conditions dried out significantly in November.
This handout provides information on the typical EL Niño winter pattern; the El Niño outlook; potential winter and spring impacts; and comparisons of conditions during previous El Niño years for the Missouri River Basin region. Updated November 2023.
NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these outlooks to inform the public about climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the U.S. Drought Portal.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Canadian and U.S. Prairies and High Plains for June–August 2023, with an outlook for October–December 2023. Dated September 2023.
While much of the Prairies and High Plains saw warmer-than-normal conditions, the southwestern region remained cooler than normal. Much drier-than-normal conditions were observed across regions along the international border, with the dry spell extending further inland which impacted regions within Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Minnesota.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin for June–August 2023. Dated September 2023.
Temperatures averaged near normal despite the extreme heat waves throughout the summer. Precipitation was plentiful in the west, with Wyoming and the Front Range of the Rockies receiving record amounts. Cheyenne, Wyoming and Akron, Colorado narrowly missed their summertime records; however, southwestern Colorado was bone-dry.