KIMBALL, Neb.  – While much of the West and southwest baked in sweltering summer heat, conditions were summery warm and dry at Kimball and across the tri-state region last week.
Across the Panhandle of Nebraska summer crops were coming in nicely as winter wheat ripened in warm and sunny conditions.
Adequate spring moisture has managed to keep pastures and rangelands mostly green across the region. With the onset of summer warmth cool season grass production is slowing as warm season grass production picks up.
Light and widely scattered precipitation fell across the region, with a few spots of locally heavy rainfall associated with thunderstorms.

Regional Forecast and Conditions
As of Tuesday, June 27, conditions at Kimball were sunny, clear and warming towards a forecast high of 91 degrees. Slightly cooler temperatures were expected through Friday, followed by a return to warmer daytime temperatures.
Daytime highs today (Friday) through Wednesday are forecast to range in the mid-80’s with overnight lows falling into the mid-50’s. Skies are expected to be generally sunny with the usual springtime chance of scattered, localized thunderstorms.
On average air temperatures warmed just slightly across the region last week. At Kimball the June 20-26 daytime high averaged 80.57 degrees, about 1 degree cooler than the previous week. The weekly high temperature was 94 degrees on June 21. Overnight lows averaged 52.71 degrees, about 2.5 degrees warmer than the previous week. The weekly low temperature was 49 degrees on June 23 and 25. The weekly mean temperature was 66.64 degrees, about 1 degree warmer than the previous week, and 1.5 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.
Eleven of 13 Panhandle stations reported precipitation over the June 20-26 period, ranging from a trace at several locations to 0.30 inches at Kimball. Panhandle precipitation averaged 0.06 inches compared to 0.46 inches last week.
Panhandle soil temperatures warmed slightly last week. June 20-26 soil temperatures (this week/last week/change): Alliance 73.1/69.9 (+3.2) degrees; Gordon 73.5/72.0 (+1.5) degrees; Mitchell 80.3/72.3 (+8.0) degrees; Scottsbluff 75.1/69.4 (+5.7); and Sidney 75.6/74.3 (+1.3) degrees.
Winds near Kimball averaged southerly and mostly light over the June 20-26 period. Gusts for the week averaged 26.14 mph. High gust for the week was 35 mph on June 22.

June 30 Weather Almanac
Here’s an overview of June 30 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 (June 30, 2016): Daily high temperature 83 degrees, overnight low 52 degrees, average temperature 67.5 degrees. Precipitation 0.10 inches, snowfall zero inches, snow depth zero inches.
The warmest June 30 on record was 101 degrees in 1933. The coolest June 30 high temperature was 66 degrees in 1987. The coldest June 30 overnight low was 41 degrees in 1995. The warmest June 30 overnight low was 65 degrees in 1895. Over the years since 1893 the high temperature on June 30 has averaged 83 degrees, the overnight low 54 degrees, the daily average 68.9 degrees, precipitation has averaged 0.07 inches, snowfall zero inches, snow depth zero inches.
The highest June 30 precipitation total was 1.63 inches in 1919.
Snow has fallen on June 30 at Kimball zero times over the last 123 years.

U.S. Drought Monitor
The High Plains: Significant rains fell across northern and eastern North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota, and northern Minnesota and provided some relief.

Little or no rain worsened conditions across eastern Montana, western and southern North Dakota, and the western half of South Dakota. Dry conditions during the past 30-days also allowed for a D0 expansion into central and southeastern Montana, northeastern Wyoming, and central and northeastern Nebraska.
Fortunately, cooler air finally filtered into the northern Plains as highs in the 90’s-100’s during the previous week were replaced with 70s and 80s this period.
Based upon the numerous tools at varying time periods (30-, 60-, 90-, and 180-days) and reported impacts, the D2 was extended westward into western North Dakota and southward in South Dakota, with D3 areas drawn for the worst indicators over the varying time periods. D0 was also extended southward into Nebraska as the past 30-days were very dry and warm which could lead to rapid soil moisture depletion if the weather
doesn’t improve.
National Summary: A weather pattern change brought badly-needed, widespread showers and thunderstorms across the eastern half of the Nation, right after abnormal dryness (D0) developed in many areas of the Midwest and south-central Plains last week.
This occurred after a wet May had alleviated many areas of drought - which was abruptly followed by dry and warm weather starting in late May into early June, a critical time for crop growth and development.
Heavy showers fell along the eastern Gulf Coast, providing additional improvement to Florida and southern Georgia. Little or no rain fell on most of the northern third of the High Plains and southern Plains, drying out conditions in Texas and Oklahoma and worsening the flash drought in eastern Montana and the
western Dakotas.
In the Southwest, although June is climatologically dry and warm, extreme heat late in the period, subnormal precipitation during the past 60-days, and some impacts was enough to expand D0 in Utah, central Arizona, and southern New Mexico. On Hawaii’s Big Island, some deterioration was made as field reports indicated worse conditions than expected while scattered showers in southwestern Alaska were not enough to improve low streamflow levels, thus D0 and D1 was slightly expanded there.
For more information on the U.S. Drought Monitor visit: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

U.S. Conditions and Weather Report
(June 27) Minimal Tropical Storm Cindy made landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border before daybreak on June 22, contributing to a storm surge along the Gulf Coast; flooding rains (locally a foot or more) in the central Gulf Coast region; and heavy showers and locally severe thunderstorms in parts of the Southeast and from the Mississippi Delta into the Ohio Valley.
Cindy’s remnant circulation was ultimately absorbed by a strong cold front crossing the Mid-Atlantic region. Prior to interacting with the former tropical storm, the cold front sparked showers and thunderstorms in the Midwest. In addition, cool air trailed that front, as well as a previous one, helping to hold weekly temperatures as much as 5 degrees below normal across the northern Plains and upper Midwest.
Rain again mostly bypassed the driest areas of eastern Montana and the western Dakotas, maintaining stress on rangeland, pastures, winter wheat, and summer crops, despite the lower temperatures.
Farther south, short-term dryness on the central and southern Plains favored winter wheat maturation and harvesting, but remained a concern with respect to diminishing grass growth and stress on rain-fed crops.
Spotty showers brought local relief, but only after a mid-week heat wave had pushed temperatures to 100 degrees or higher throughout the central and southern High Plains.
Unlike the Plains’ fleeting hot spell, sustained, record breaking heat—with temperatures averaging at least 10 degrees above normal—gripped California, the Great Basin, and the Southwest. Weekly readings averaged as much as 20 degrees above normal in northern California, while all-time-record highs were tied on June 20 in locations such as Needles, California (125 degrees), and Las Vegas, Nevada (117degrees). The Western heat boosted irrigation demands; melted much of the remaining high-elevation snow; and spurred fieldwork and crop development that had been previously delayed by a cool, wet spring.

USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Reports

Colorado
Record high temperatures along with windy conditions observed across the state this past week led to a decline in soil moisture conditions. Cooler weather late in the week with isolated precipitation helped mitigate heat in eastern counties.
Crops sustained significant growth and development this past week, while the dry weather allowed producers to focus on cutting hay and finishing up planting activities. Southeastern counties reported localized severe weather with high winds, damaging hail, and tornadic activity.
A reporter noted in Moffat and Routt counties that alfalfa freeze-damaged two weeks ago was reported by producers to have sustained heavy losses. Barley in the San Luis Valley was also reported to show some previous freeze damage.
Livestock and pasture conditions are reportedly in good shape, although those areas that did not see as much moisture this spring are more distressed with recent dry weather.
Development of winter wheat was ahead of last year and the average, with harvest just beginning in a few eastern and southeastern counties. Winter wheat condition was rated 46 percent good to excellent statewide, compared with 67 percent good to excellent last year.
Stored feed supplies were rated 5 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 12
percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 4 percent heavy, 64 percent average, and 32 percent light. Cattle death loss was 74 percent average and 26 percent light. Nebraska
This report was not available at press time.

Wyoming
Wyoming experienced near normal temperatures for the week. Sixteen of the 34 stations reported above average temperatures for the week with the high temperature of 97 degrees recorded at Torrington and a low of 27 degrees at Lake
Yellowstone.
Fourteen stations reported no precipitation and Sheridan had the most precipitation with 0.07 inches. All 34 stations received below normal precipitation.
A reporter from North Central Wyoming indicted that they had moderate temperatures, not much moisture, and wind. They also reported that livestock look good, first cutting of hay is underway, and lots of weevils being reported.
A reporter from Northeast Wyoming reported that several areas are experiencing diminished forage and grazing due to a lack of moisture and depleted subsoil moisture.
A reporter from Western Wyoming noted that it was pretty dry last week with cool nights and warm days.
A reporter from South Central Wyoming commented that it continued to be dry and windy which has dried out pastures and stopped growth. They also indicated that irrigation water is disappearing fast and the hay crop looks to
be short.
A reporter from Southeast Wyoming indicated that summer range conditions exist. Another reporter from Southeast Wyoming indicated that moisture has been short and the days warm. They also report that the winter wheat is quickly
maturing.
Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 4 percent very short, 5 percent short, 88 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.