KIMBALL, Neb. – Conditions were mostly clear, sunny and warm across the tri-state region as the last seven days of spring played out.
Calendar and astronomical summer arrived at 10:24 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20. This was the moment of the Summer Solstice.
The Summer Solstice is that moment when the sun, which has been moving north for six months, reaches the furthest point on its northward journey which began way back on Dec. 22 at the Winter Solstice. Back then, the sun finished its southward journey on the first day of winter and began retracing its path.
As the sun moved north, each day got a little bit longer and each night a little bit shorter.
Just as the Dec. 22 Winter Solstice marked the shortest day and longest night of the year, the June 20 Summer Solstice marked the longest day and shortest night of the year.
After reaching the northerly terminus of its annual journey on Tuesday, the sun began to move southward again.
The apparent path of the sun across the sky is actually an illusion, caused by the Earth moving in relation to the sun, which is more or less fixed at the center of the solar system. Our planet spins once every 24 hours on its axis, which is tilted 23 degrees with respect to the plane of the ecliptic. From the surface this makes it seem as if the sun rises in the east, tracks across the sky, and sets in the west.
During winter and spring the daily path of the sun is a bit higher as it appears to move northward. In summer and autumn the reverse is true. This apparent motion is caused by the tilted Earth orbiting the sun, a journey that takes slightly more than 365 days.

Regional Forecast and Conditions
As of Tuesday morning, June 20, conditions at Kimball were sunny, clear and warming. A weather system was expected to arrive on Thursday, bringing cooler temperatures and a chance of rain. By Monday, temperatures were expected to begin warming again.
Daytime highs through Sunday are forecast to range in the upper-60’s through mid-70’s with overnight lows falling to below 50. As the weather front passes on Sunday, daily highs were forecast to climb back into the mid- to upper-80’s, with overnight lows falling into the 50’s. Skies are expected to be mostly sunny and clear with the usual springtime chance of scattered, localized thunderstorms.
Air temperatures cooled slightly across the region last week. At Kimball the June 13-19 daytime high averaged 81.0 degrees, about 2 degrees cooler than the previous week. The weekly high temperature was 91 degrees on June 16. Overnight lows averaged 50.14 degrees, about 5 degrees cooler than the previous week. The weekly low temperature was 43 degrees on June 18. The weekly mean temperature was 65.57 degrees, about 3 degrees cooler than the previous week, and very near the June average of 65.2 degrees. The long-term average June high temperature at Kimball is 80.3 degrees. The average low temperature is 50.1 degrees.
Precipitation was reported at nine of 13 Panhandle stations during the period from June 13 to June 19. Amounts ranged from 2.46 inches at Harrison to 0.02 inches at Kimball. Panhandle precipitation averaged 0.46 inches, compared to 0.16 inches last week.
Soil temperatures around the Panhandle cooled slightly last week, with the exception of Sidney, which warmed slightly. June 13-19 soil temperatures (this week/last week/change): Alliance 69.9/72.1 (-2.2) degrees; Gordon 72.0/74.7 (-2.7) degrees; Mitchell 72.3/73.6 (-1.3) degrees; Scottsbluff 69.4/73.2 (-3.8); and Sidney 74.3/73.7 (+0.6) degrees.
Winds near Kimball averaged from the east-southeast and generally light over the June 13-19 period. Gusts for the week averaged 27.57 mph. High gust for the week was 39 mph on June 16.

June 23 Weather Almanac
Here’s an overview of June 23 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 82 degrees, overnight low 58 degrees, average temperature 70.0 degrees. Precipitation zero inches, snowfall zero inches, snow depth zero inches.
The warmest June 23 on record was 103 degrees in 1954. The coolest June 23 high temperature was 60 degrees in 1969. The coldest June 23 overnight low was 56 degrees in 1906. The warmest June 23 overnight low was 62 degrees in 1963. Over the years since 1893 the high temperature on June 23 has averaged 81 degrees, the overnight low 53 degrees, the daily average 66.8 degrees, precipitation has averaged 0.08 inches, snowfall zero inches, snow depth zero inches.
No snow has fallen on June 23 at Kimball over the last 123 years.

U.S. Drought Monitor
June 13, 2017
The High Plains: After a dry and hot early June, a system finally tracked across the northern Plains, somewhat lowering temperatures but finally bringing rain (1-3 inches) to parts of the Dakotas by the end of the week. For the most part, the rains were not great enough to make sizeable improvements to the drought, but where 1.5 or more inches fell, especially in eastern sections of the Dakotas, drought was reduced. For example, 2-4 inches of rain fell on portions of Spink, Clark, and Codington counties in South Dakota, allowing for a 1-category improvement there. D1 was also slightly trimmed in south-central South Dakota and southeastern North Dakota where bands of 1.5-2.5 inches of rain fell.
D0 was removed in extreme southeastern Montana and northeastern Wyoming where short and long-term SPIs were close to normal or even wet. In contrast, downgrades were made in northeastern Montana where April-June are normally the wettest months of the year. D0 and D1 were expanded westward, and D2 was added to encompass locations such as Glasgow, Circle, Fort Peck, Jordan, Brockway, and Saco that reported their first or second driest April 1-June 12 period on record. Totals ranged from 0.8-1.31 inches, or 14-29 percent of normal.

In the central Dakotas, lower totals (0.2-0.5 inches) plus the heat did little to halt deterioration as the existing D2 area expanded westward and northward in ND and southward into SD. D0 also pushed into extreme northern Nebraska and southeastern South Dakota. Even with the rainfall, it will take a while for the vegetation to respond to the moisture. Until then, cattle producers were waiting in line to reduce herd sizes, and a North Dakota hotline for hay has been busy.
Crop-wise, spring wheat conditions in the June 11 USDA/NASS report was rated poor or very poor in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, while range conditions fared no better in these states.
Elsewhere, 30-day percentages below 50 percent were found in eastern Kansas, hence D0 was added, based upon the criteria for short-term flash dryness as depicted in the Midwest and South.

National Summary: After a rather wet May with near- to slightly below normal temperatures and generally favorable growing conditions, the central Plains and Midwest have abruptly become dry and warm during the past several weeks, raising concerns of rapid topsoil moisture loss and declining crop conditions.
In contrast, slow-moving Pacific systems crept across the Northwest and into the northern Plains, bringing unsettled weather to the region including measurable snow to higher elevations of the Sierras while also producing scattered thunderstorms to parts of the drought-stricken Dakotas late in the period.
In the Southeast, a stalled front combined with the start of Florida’s rainy season, dumped moderate to heavy rainfall (2-8 inches, locally over a foot) along the coastal areas of the eastern Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts, especially in Florida.
In Hawaii, recent drier weather on windward sides of Maui and the Big Island led to D0 expansion, while wetter weather in Alaska eased wildfire conditions.
For more information on the U.S. Drought Monitor visit: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

U.S. Conditions and Weather Report
Mid-month showers and thunderstorms provided many Midwestern locations with enough rain to improve topsoil moisture and stabilize crop conditions, well in advance
of reproduction.
The rain occurred in spite of hot weather, which boosted weekly temperatures more than 10° degrees above normal across parts of the central and eastern Corn Belt.
Farther west, beneficial showers also dotted the northern Plains, with variable rainfall providing drought relief in some areas—including the eastern Dakotas.
Little rain fell across eastern Montana and portions of the western Dakotas, resulting in further condition declines in rangeland, pasture and crops.
Mostly dry, increasingly hot weather covered large sections of the central and southern Plains, promoting a rapid pace of winter wheat maturation and harvesting, but boosting irrigation demands and increasing stress on rainfed crops. Temperatures averaged as much as 10 degrees above normal on the central and southern Plains.
Near-normal temperatures and occasional showers caused some delays in field work in the Southeastern region while maintaining generally favorable crop conditions. Elsewhere, seasonably dry weather in the Southwest contrasted with cool, showery conditions in the Northwest.
Below-normal temperatures covered much of the West until late in the week, when markedly hotter weather suddenly arrived.

USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Reports

Colorado
Very warm and dry conditions accelerated crop development this past week and allowed fieldwork to progress rapidly. Planting activities are at or approaching completion for the majority of
spring crops.
Most of the state received minimal precipitation, with a few northern counties experiencing severe weather, including isolated hail, earlier in the week.
One reporter noted freezing temperatures in a few northwestern counties damaged the alfalfa crop mid-week.
Winter wheat was starting to mature, ahead of last year and right at the average, with 41 percent rated good to excellent statewide, compared with 67 percent good to excellent last year.
Stored feed supplies were rated 2 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 3 percent heavy, 68 percent average, and 29 percent light. Cattle death loss was 7 percent heavy, 68 percent average, and 25 percent light. Nebraska
For the week ending June 18, temperatures averaged four to eight degrees above normal across a majority of the state, with the exception of the Panhandle, where temperatures were near normal. Rainfall averaged one to two inches in the eastern half of the state and the northwestern part of the panhandle. The rest of the State remained dry.
Topsoil moisture supplies rated 6 percent very short, 31 short, 61 adequate, and 2 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 3 percent very short, 22 short, 74 adequate, and 1 surplus.
Severe windstorms passed through eastern counties on Friday evening. There were reports of damage to trees, equipment and farm buildings.
There were 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork.
Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 18 fair, 66 good, and 12 excellent.
Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 poor, 23 fair, 65 good, and 7 excellent. Soybeans emerged was 96 percent, near 94 last year and 93 for the five-year average.
Winter wheat condition rated 3 percent very poor, 10 poor, 36 fair, 41 good, and 10 excellent. Winter wheat coloring was 76 percent, ahead of 58 last year, and well ahead of 52 average. Mature was 4 percent.
Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 0 poor, 36 fair, 56 good, and 8 excellent. Sorghum planted was 98 percent, equal to last year, and near 97 average. Emerged was 91 percent, ahead of 83 last year and 76 average. Headed was 2 percent, near 0 both last year
and average.
Oats condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 31 fair, 59 good, and 7 excellent. Oats headed was 94 percent, well ahead of 74 last year and 69 average. Coloring was 20 percent.
Alfalfa condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 27 fair, 60 good, and 7 excellent. Alfalfa first cutting was 89 percent, near 93 last year, but ahead of 80 average. Second cutting was 6 percent.
Dry edible beans planted was 90 percent, behind 95 last year, but near 89 average. Emerged was 55 percent, behind 60 last year, and near 57 average.
Proso millet planted was 75 percent, ahead of 61 last year and 63 average.
Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 22 fair, 66 good, and 8 excellent.
Stock water supplies rated 0 percent very short, 3 short, 96 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Wyoming
Wyoming experienced cooler than normal temperatures for the week. Less than average temperatures were recorded at 25 of 34 reporting stations, with the high temperature of 91 degrees recorded at Old Fort Laramie and Torrington and a low of 30 degrees at Rawlins.
Three stations reported no precipitation. Jackson Hole had the most precipitation with 1.59 inches. Normal precipitation levels were reported at 16 of the 34.
A reporter from western Wyoming indicted they had a cool week, with near freezing temperatures and some thunderstorm activity.
A reporter from southwestern Wyoming noted warm temperatures and high winds, which have dried things out quickly.
Reporters from south central Wyoming noted high winds and a lack of moisture for last week.
A reporter from southeast Wyoming indicated that cheatgrass has matured, range conditions are at peak of growing season and summer conditions are advancing quickly. Other reporters in the region indicated hail and tornadoes, which did some damage to crops and pasture.
Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 7 percent very short, 5 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.