Nice warming and plenty of sunshine brought summery weather to the tri-state region last week. Along with the sunshine and warmth came mostly isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms.
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KIMBALL – Nice warming and plenty of sunshine brought summery weather to the tri-state region last week. Along with the sunshine and warmth came mostly isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms.
The weather was perfect for fieldwork and many producers worked hard to get caught up with springtime planting, tillage, and application chores.
Winter wheat finished heading for the most part and by Tuesday near Kimball was showing signs of color change in some places.
Pastures and rangeland were looking especially green and lush near Kimball and were providing plenty of browse for livestock.
On Monday evening a very large, multi-state weather system moved into the region generating widespread thunderstorms and several tornadoes.
Regional Forecast and Conditions
As of Tuesday, June 13, conditions at Kimball were sunny and clear, with a good deal of breeziness associated with the passage of a large thunderstorm-bearing weather front. In general, these conditions are expected to remain through the weekend and into the middle of next week.
Daytime highs through Wednesday, June 14, were expected to range in the upper-70’s through mid-80’s, with overnight lows falling into the lower- to mid- 50’s. Mostly sunny and clear skies were expected, with the usual springtime chance of scattered, localized thunderstorms.
Air temperatures warmed across the region last week. At Kimball the June 6-12 daytime high averaged 52.14 degrees, about 3.5 degrees warmer than the previous week. The weekly high temperature was 91 degrees on June 9. Overnight lows averaged 55.0 degrees, about 7 degrees warmer than the previous week. The weekly low temperature was 51 degrees on June 7. The weekly mean temperature was 68.57 degrees, about 5 degrees warmer than the previous week, and about 3.5 degrees warmer 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 degrees, respectively.
Nine of 13 Panhandle stations reported precipitation over the June 6-12 period, ranging from 0.62 inches at Harrison to 0.01 inches at Agate and Scottsbluff. Panhandle precipitation averaged 0.16 inches compared to 0.20 inches last week.
Soil temperatures warmed last week, ranging from 4.7 to 7.5 degrees warmer than the previous week across the Panhandle. June 6-12 soil temperatures (this week/last week/change): Alliance 72.1/66.4 (+5.7) degrees; Gordon 74.7/67.7 (+7.0) degrees; Mitchell 73.6/66.1 (+7.5) degrees; Scottsbluff 73.2/66.8 (+6.4); and Sidney 73.7/69.0 (+4.7) degrees.
Winds near Kimball averaged easterly and generally light over the June 6-12 period. Gusts for the week averaged 29.42 mph. High gust for the week was 38 mph on June 12.
Weather Almanac
June 16
An overview of temperature and precipitation highs, lows, and averages over the preceding 123 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 87 degrees, overnight low 52 degrees, average temperature 69.5 degrees. Precipitation zero inches, snowfall zero inches, snow depth zero inches.
The warmest June 16 on record was 96 degrees in 1964. The coolest high temperature was 60 degrees in 1969. The coldest overnight low was 34 degrees in 1945. The warmest overnight low was 62 degrees in 1900. Over the years since 1893 the high temperature has averaged 78 degrees, the overnight low 51 degrees, the daily average 64.4 degrees, precipitation has averaged 0.09 inches, snowfall zero inches, snow depth zero inches.
Snow has fallen on June 16 at Kimball zero times over the last 123 years.
U.S. Drought Monitor
June 6
The High Plains: The lack of precipitation combined with near record temperatures and high winds has created very dry growing conditions across the Dakotas, with little to no hay production expected. The U.S. Department of Agriculture rates more than half of the topsoil in these two states as short to very short. Moderate drought (D1) was expanded so that it now covers the majority of North Dakota as well as northern South Dakota, and severe drought (D2) was introduced.
National Summary: Above-normal rainfall fell across the southern and eastern portions of the country. The rainfall eliminated the lingering abnormally dry areas in the Northeast and helped to alleviate drought conditions across parts of Texas, Georgia, and Florida. Due to variations in totals, pockets of dryness remain in the Texas Panhandle and southeastern Oklahoma; this has led to the expansion of abnormally dry conditions in small areas. Warm, dry weather combined with high winds in the northern Plains continued to dry out vegetation and deteriorate drought conditions while drought persisted across the Southwest.
June 13
Mostly dry weather persisted through a second consecutive week in the heart of the Midwest, favoring winter wheat maturation but sharply reducing topsoil moisture availability for corn and
soybean development.
Late-week heat spread across the western Corn Belt. Late-week showers and thunderstorms provided only local relief to heat- and drought-stressed rangeland, pastures, winter wheat, and spring-sown crops on the northern Plains.
Farther south, widespread Southeastern showers slowed fieldwork – including winter wheat harvesting – but nearly eliminated any remaining drought areas. The heaviest rain (locally 4 to 8 inches or more) fell across parts of Florida and southernmost Georgia.
Seasonably dry weather covered the Southwest, accompanied by consistently hot conditions. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 5 to 10 degrees above normal from the Southwest and Intermountain West to the northern Plains and upper Midwest.
As heat shifted eastward, late-week temperatures topped 100 degrees on the Plains as far north as the Dakotas. Elsewhere, scattered showers were noted in the Northwest, as well as central and southern sections of the Rockies and Plains.
On the central and southern Plains, the hit-or-miss showers generally caused only minor winter wheat harvest delays.
USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Reports
Colorado
Isolated precipitation along with very warm weather accelerated crop development in many counties across the state.
Strong thunderstorms with heavy precipitation and hail were reported in some northeastern counties. Isolated crop damage was reported in
these localities.
Increased heat units and localized moisture have generally improved crop conditions, with the exception of areas that received damaging weather.
Reporters noted that producers continue to treat wheat for disease issues.
Virtually all winter wheat was headed, just ahead of last year, with 48 percent rated good to excellent statewide, compared with 69 percent good to excellent last year.
Stored feed supplies were rated 1 percent short, 93 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 77 percent average and 23 percent light. Cattle death loss was 2 percent heavy, 71 percent average, and 27 percent light.
Nebraska
For the week ending June 11, temperatures averaged four to eight degrees above normal and were accompanied by
dry conditions.