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.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin for March–May 2023. Dated June 2023.

Cooler temperatures dominated the northern and western parts of the Basin, leading North Dakota to its 2nd coldest March–April. Temperatures rapidly flipped in May, with near-record warmth across the north. Precipitation was below normal for much of the basin this spring. Eastern Nebraska experienced record to near-record dryness this spring, exacerbating drought conditions.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin for December 2022–February 2023. Dated March 2023.

Temperatures were below normal for much of the region. Precipitation was well above normal in the central portions of the basin, with record to near-record wetness. Improvements to drought conditions occurred across much of the basin in response to the above-normal precipitation, with the region observing a nearly 15% decrease in drought.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin for September–November 2022. Dated December 2022.

Temperatures were near to slightly above-normal for the majority of the Missouri River Basin this fall. Precipitation was below normal for much of the northern Great Plains, while mountainous areas to the west observed normal to above-normal precipitation.

This handout provides information on the typical La Niña winter pattern; the La Niña outlook; potential winter and spring impacts; and comparisons of conditions during previous La Niña years for the Missouri River Basin region. Updated November 2022.

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 Drought Portal.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin for June–August 2022. Dated September 2022.

Temperatures were above normal for the majority of the Missouri River Basin, with the greatest departures in the western parts of Kansas and Nebraska. Precipitation was above normal in Colorado and parts of Wyoming due to the Southwest Monsoon, while other isolated pockets of near-normal precipitation were present in the basin. Much of Kansas and Nebraska were well below normal, resulting in the intensification of drought conditions in those states.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin for March–May 2022. Dated June 2022.

Temperatures were below normal for the majority of the Missouri River Basin. The greatest departures were in North Dakota and northwestern Wyoming. Precipitation was well above normal in North Dakota and near normal over the Rockies and eastern Kansas. Over southwestern South Dakota, western Kansas, and eastern Colorado, precipitation was well below normal this spring.

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin for December 2021–February 2022. Dated March 2022.

Winter temperatures were above normal for the majority of the Missouri River Basin. Precipitation was mostly below normal in the mountains and plains. The exception was eastern North Dakota with well-above-normal precipitation and snowfall. Many counties in northern Kansas and Nebraska ranked among their driest winters on record.