First week of summer brings more rain, cooler temperatures

Shaun Evertson
Posted 6/29/18

A slow-moving weather system brought cool temperatures and widespread rain to much of the tri-state region as spring became summer last week.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

First week of summer brings more rain, cooler temperatures

Posted

KIMBALL, Neb. – A slow-moving weather system brought cool temperatures and widespread rain to much of the tri-state region as spring became summer last week.

Across the Nebraska Panhandle rainfall averaged nearly eight-tenths of an inch, contributing to soil moisture but keeping many producers out of the field.

June rains (just more than 2 inches at Kimball) have followed on abundant spring to bring year-to-date precipitation totals well above average across much of the region. At Kimball the total precipitation since January is more than 14 inches, or nearly seven-eighths of the long term annual average.

Last week’s cool, rainy weather brought both air and soil temperatures down across much of the region. Air temps fell by about 7 degrees from the previous week and averaged 3-5 degrees below average. Soil temperatures also fell off by 4-7 degrees.

Regional Forecast and Conditions

As of Tuesday (June 26), the temperature at sunrise was 52 degrees under clear skies. Winds were westerly at 6 mph, and the barometer was steady at 30.00 inches of mercury (in/Hg).

Today’s weather (Friday, June 29) is expected to be sunny and hot. The temperature is expected to rise to 90 degrees before falling off to an overnight low of 57. Saturday should be mostly sunny and cooler with a slight chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Saturday’s high should reach 77 degrees before falling to an overnight low of 51. Sunday is expected to be mostly sunny and slightly warmer with a high of 81 and a chance of showers. Sunday’s overnight low is expected to fall to 53 degrees.

Monday through Wednesday are expected to be mostly sunny with highs in the mid-80’s and overnight lows falling into the mid-50’s and a continued chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

A mostly cloudy, cool, and damp week caused 24-hour average air temperatures to cool across the region last week. At 13 selected stations across the Panhandle 24-hour temperatures averaged 64.7 degrees, about 7.5 degrees cooler than the previous week. At Kimball the June 19-25 daytime high averaged 74.71 degrees, about 7.5 degrees cooler than the previous week. The weekly high temperature was 83 degrees on June 23. Overnight lows averaged 51.71 degrees, about 4 degrees cooler than the previous week. The weekly low temperature was 47 degrees on June 21. The weekly mean temperature at Kimball was 63.21 degrees, about 5.5 degrees cooler than last week, and about 2 degrees cooler than the June average of 65.2 degrees. The long-term average high and low temperatures at Kimball for June are 80.3 and 50.1, respectively.

All 13 selected Panhandle stations reported rain over the June 19-25 period. Rainfall totals ranged from 1.75 inches at Big Springs to 0.30 inches at Bushnell. Across the Panhandle rainfall averaged 0.78 inches, compared to 0.76 inches last week.
Soil temperature fell off sharply across the Panhandle over the June 19-25 period: (this week/last week/change): Alliance 66.8/73.7 (-6.9) degrees; Gordon 67.0/71.7 (-4.7) degrees; Mitchell 70.1/75.3 (-4.2) degrees; Scottsbluff 68.6/74.4 (-5.8); and Sidney 67.0/74.7 (-7.7) degrees.

Winds near Kimball averaged west-southwesterly and mostly light over the June 19-25 period. Gusts for the week averaged 31 mph. High gust for the week was 45 mph on June 23.

Weather Almanac

Here’s an overview of June 29 temperature and precipitation highs, lows, and averages over the preceding 125 years at Kimball. Data is taken from the High Plains Regional Climate Center (www.hprcc.unl.edu), where you can easily find and track data for your own particular location.

Last year: Daily high temperature 78 degrees, overnight low 53 degrees, average temperature 65.5 degrees. Precipitation 0.01 inches, snowfall zero inches, snow depth zero inches.

The warmest June 29 on record was 100 degrees in 1931. The coolest June 29 high temperature was 60 degrees in 1959. The coldest June 29 overnight low was 42 degrees in 2008. The warmest June 29 overnight low was 72 degrees in 1936. Over the years since 1893 the high temperature on June 29 has averaged 83 degrees, the overnight low 54 degrees, the daily average 68.6 degrees, precipitation has averaged 0.07 inches, snowfall zero inches, snow depth zero inches.

The highest June 29 precipitation total was 2.60 inches liquid equivalent in 1928. There is no record of snowfall or snow depth on June 29 over the last 125 years.

Snow has fallen on June 29 at Kimball zero times over the last 125 years.

U.S. Drought Monitor

National Summary: An active weather pattern brought rain to areas of the northern Rocky Mountains, northern Plains, Upper Midwest and Southwest and along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida. The rain in the Southwest was from the remnants of tropical storm Bud, which came up the Gulf of California and brought much-needed moisture into the region. Tropical moisture also flowed inland off the Gulf of Mexico, bringing heavy coastal rains at the end of the current U.S. Drought Monitor period. A series of events brought heavy rains from Montana to Wisconsin along the northern tier of the country, with up to 6-8 inches of rain over much of Wisconsin for the week.

Temperatures for the week were at or above normal for most of the country, with only the northern Rocky Mountains, portions of the Southwest, and the Eastern Seaboard being below normal. Areas of the Plains had triple-digit heat, with areas of Nebraska and Kansas having departures of 6-10 degrees above normal for the week.

High Plains: The northern portions of the region were cooler than normal with widespread rain over the western Dakotas while most of the rest of the region had temperatures that were 6-9 degrees above normal, and most areas from central and eastern Nebraska into eastern Kansas were drier than normal for the week. Precipitation amounts that were 1-2 inches above normal fell along the Nebraska and South Dakota border and in and around the Omaha metro area in eastern Nebraska.

Improvements were made over most of northern and western North Dakota, where moderate and severe drought was improved and the extent of the abnormally dry areas was also reduced. A full category improvement was also made over western South Dakota as the short-term pattern has brought enough precipitation that only lingering long-term issues remain. The impact designation over the western Dakotas was also changed to long-term. In eastern South Dakota, the short-term dryness as well as the heat allowed for the expansion of both moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions to the south.

Moderate drought was expanded in southeast Nebraska along the Kansas border. Moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions were improved in far eastern Nebraska this week as well.

Extreme drought was removed from southwest Kansas as the drought indicators and indices did not support extreme drought with the influx of the most recent rains. Impacts remain, especially in the agricultural sector. In eastern Kansas, abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions were expanded as the region continues to miss out on the rain events and the recent heat has rapidly worsened conditions.

West: Most of Montana has been quite wet over both the short- and long-term, but there are pockets of dryness remaining and developing in the northwest portion of the state. Widespread precipitation over much of eastern Idaho, Wyoming, and southern Montana has kept these areas drought free.

Tropical moisture came up the Gulf of California and into the Southwest over the weekend, bringing cooler temperatures and widespread precipitation over both Arizona and New Mexico and into central Colorado. No changes were made in Arizona, but the rains allowed from some improvement to the severe and extreme drought over eastern New Mexico as well as some minor improvements in southeast Colorado.

Abnormally dry conditions were introduced into northwest Montana, northern Idaho and extreme northeast Washington while moderate drought was introduced into north central Montana.

For more information on the U.S. Drought Monitor visit: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu 

U.S. Conditions and Weather Report

Large sections of the country experienced scattered to locally heavy showers, in spite of general warmth.

Inundating rainfall struck the western Gulf Coast region, eradicating drought concerns but sparking major flooding in southern and coastal Texas. Meanwhile, periods of heavy rain soaked portions of the Plains and Midwest, maintaining abundant to locally excessive soil moisture in many areas.

Rainfall was lighter in much of the Southeast. In addition, rainfall largely bypassed the nation’s southwestern quadrant, stretching from California to western Texas. Generally dry weather also prevailed in the Pacific Northwest, where a late-week rash of wildfires in Oregon and northern California collectively charred more than 100,000 acres of vegetation and destroyed more than 50 structures.

Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees greater than normal in the Pacific Northwest and were also above normal in most other parts of the country. Some of the hottest weather, relative to normal, affected the southern Mid-Atlantic States. Elsewhere, cooler-than-normal conditions were limited to portions of the northern High Plains and northern Intermountain West.

USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Reports

Colorado

Colorado experienced warm temperatures interspersed with severe storms which continued to push crop growth and maturity.

Eastern districts received mostly isolated moisture, while western and southern counties remained dry.  Northeastern county reporters noted locally heavy moisture was received, coupled with damaging hail.  Several reporters stated hail caused isolated, but severe, crop damage in areas.  Winter wheat was also noted to be maturing fast due to warm temps.

In localities that haven’t received moisture, a reporter noted rangeland was suffering with decreased stocking rates reported.

In the east central district, wheat harvest began last week in southern counties.  Early observations indicated low test weights were an issue for some producers.  Spotty precipitation was also received, with some localities receiving over an inch and others seeing little.  A reporter noted prolonged lack of moisture kept producers from getting sunflowers and sorghum planted, with some acres expected not to be planted at all.

In southwestern counties, devastating drought conditions continued without reprieve.  Extreme fire danger and actively burning fires continued.

In the San Luis Valley, little moisture was received last week, allowing alfalfa hay harvest to progress quickly.  Reporters noted irrigated crops were doing well where water was available, but that rangeland continued to show drought stress.  A reporter mentioned some livestock were being sent to sale due to decreased range production and forage shortages.

Southeastern counties received spotty precipitation, but not enough to mitigate extreme drought conditions.  Multiple reporters noted sorghum not yet planted wasn’t expected to be planted due to severe lack of moisture and short irrigation water supplies.

Statewide, winter wheat was maturing ahead of the average, with 42 percent rated good to excellent, compared with 46 percent good to excellent last year.

Stored feed supplies were rated 7 percent very short, 19 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 76 percent average and 24 percent light.  Cattle death loss was 82 percent average and 18 percent light.


Nebraska

No report published since mid-May.

Wyoming

Wyoming experienced below normal temperatures for the week.  Thirty-two of the 34 reporting stations reported below average temperatures for the week with the high temperature of 86 degrees recorded at Wheatland and a low of 31 degrees at Yellowstone.

Above normal moisture was reported at 32 of the 34 reporting stations.  Rock Springs reported the least precipitation with 0.16 inches.   Sundance reported the most moisture with 4.47 inches.

A reporter from North Central Wyoming noted that crops remain behind due to a late spring.  Another reporter from North Central Wyoming indicated that they received good moisture last week and the crops look good.

A reporter from Western Wyoming indicated that they received some moisture and had some near freezing temperatures and the farmers have been busy putting up alfalfa.

A reporter from Southwestern Wyoming indicated that it has been very dry and windy.  They also reported that while the irrigated pasture looked good, they are in danger of being cut off of irrigation water.

A reporter from South Central Wyoming stated that while they have received some moisture it has not been enough to change their plans for early haying and increased pasture rotations.

A reporter from Southeastern Wyoming indicated that they have received substantial rain and range conditions are in great shape but haying has slowed significantly.  Another reporter from Southeastern Wyoming indicated that several storms have passed through the area leaving some hay on the ground but the pastures and rangeland are in good shape.  Another reporter from Southeastern Wyoming stated that they received hail which damaged some wheat and millet.

Irrigation water supply across Wyoming was rated 1 percent poor, 5 percent fair, 89 percent good, and 5 percent excellent.

Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 5 percent very short, 7 percent short, 86 percent, and 2 percent adequate.