KIMBALL, Neb. – Conditions were mostly seasonal for early Nov. across the region, with sunny to partly-sunny skies and warmish daytime temperatures followed by crisp and frosty nights. The week was bookended on Oct. 31 and Nov. 6 by fast-moving weather systems which delivered freezing rain and snow.

Fall harvest activities continued apace with an increase in corn harvest and a slowdown of sugarbeet harvest as that campaign neared the finish line.

Much of the late-season grass growth came to an end although winter grazing looks good in well managed pastures and rangeland.

Regional Forecast and Conditions

As of Tuesday morning, the temperature at sunrise was 21 degrees with light snow falling from an overcast sky. The day was expected clear later with temperatures climbing only into the mid-20’s.

The forecast through the weekend calls for mostly sunny skies and daytime highs reaching into the low- to mid-50’s. Some breeziness is forecast for Saturday. Little if any precipitation is anticipated. Overnight lows are expected to fall into the mid-20’s.

Monday-Wednesday conditions are expected to remain seasonally mild, with daytime highs ranging from mid-60’s Monday to mid-50’s Tuesday and Wednesday, and overnight lows falling into the 20’s. There is little chance of precipitation in the forecast.
Daytime air temperatures cooled across the region last week. At Kimball, the Oct. 31-Nov. 6 daytime high averaged 50.71 degrees, about 6 degrees cooler than the previous week. The weekly high temperature was 71 degrees. Overnight lows warmed slightly, averaging 29 degrees, about 1.75 degrees warmer than the previous week. The weekly low temperature was 19 degrees on Oct. 31. The weekly mean temperature was 39.85 degrees, about 2.5 degrees cooler than the previous week, and just over 3 degrees warmer than the November average of 36.1 degrees. The long term average high and low temperatures at Kimball for Nov. are 50.1 and 21.9 degrees, respectively.
Ten of 13 Panhandle stations reported precipitation over the Oct. 31-Nov. 6 period, with liquid moisture totals ranging from 0.39 inches at Chadron Municipal to 0.01 inches at Dalton and Sidney Municipal. Big Springs, Hemingford, and Sidney 0.9 NNE reported zero precipitation. Seven stations reported snow, ranging from 2 inches at Agate to 0.1 inches at Dalton. Six stations reported zero snowfall. Panhandle precipitation averaged 0.13 inches compared to 0.03 inches last week, and Panhandle snowfall averaged 0.43 inches, compared to 0.04 inches last week.
Panhandle soil temperatures cooled over the Oct. 31-Nov. 6 period: (this week/last week/change): Alliance 40.8/45.6 (-4.8) degrees; Gordon 39.9/43.9 (-4.0) degrees; Mitchell 45.0/48.7 (-3.7) degrees; Scottsbluff 43.3/46.7 (-3.4); and Sidney 41.2/45.4 (-4.2) degrees.

Winds near Kimball averaged east-southeasterly and mostly mild over the Oct. 31-Nov. 6 period. Gusts for the week averaged 28.57 mph. High gust for the week was 46 mph on Nov. 4.

Weather Almanac

Here’s an overview of Nov. 10 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 73 degrees, overnight low 27 degrees, average temperature 50.0 degrees. Precipitation 0.00 inches, snowfall zero inches, snow depth zero inches.

The warmest Nov. 10 on record was 77 degrees in 1927. The coolest Nov. 10 high temperature was 18 degrees in 1985. The coldest Nov. 10 overnight low was -6 degrees in 1950. The warmest Nov. 10 overnight low was 41 degrees in 1989. Over the years since 1893 the high temperature on Nov. 10 has averaged 51 degrees, the overnight low 24.0 degrees, the daily average 37.4 degrees, precipitation has averaged 0.02 inches, snowfall 0.2 inches, snow depth zero inches.

The greatest Nov. 10 precipitation total was 0.53 inches liquid equivalent in 1940. The greatest snowfall was 6 inches in 1940. Greatest snow depth was 6.0 inches in 1940
and 1947.

Snow has fallen on Nov. 10 at Kimball 16 times over the last 123 years, with quantities ranging from a trace to 6 inches.

U.S. Drought Monitor

The High Plains: After several weeks of modifications to the northern Plains (mostly improvements but some deterioration), little or no precipitation fell last week – which is normal for the fall and winter months in the northern Plains.

Weekly temperatures averaged near to below normal, along with widespread sub-freezing readings, basically ending the growing season. With typical precipitation (dry), cool temperatures, little or no evapotranspiration or plant growth, no major changes were made in the High Plains this week. Two small exceptions included extending D0 into eastern areas of North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota as a dry Oct. accumulated enough deficits at 60- and 90-days in a slightly wetter climate regime.

West: In southwestern Colorado, even though the indices were similar to the adjacent D1 area in southeastern Utah, ground reports indicated much better conditions in Colorado than in neighboring southeastern Utah, so no D1 was drawn.

Tranquil conditions returned to the West after last week’s stormy and wet weather in the Northwest. Little or no precipitation and above-normal temperatures were the rule in the West as upper-air ridging enveloped the region. With improvements made to the Northwest last week, no changes were made there this week.

Farther south, however, persistently dry and warm weather over the past several months, including a weaker than normal summer monsoon and early ending in Arizona and Utah, along with increased evaporative demand, has started to portray negative impacts. In west-central Arizona (D0 added), a poor monsoon and long-term negative anomalies has started to affect reservoir levels and recreation.

In northeastern Arizona, D0 was expanded and D1 was added as soil moisture data showed shallow and deep moisture profiles falling to their lowest level in a year. Ranchers were hauling in hay as any natural forage is dead or dormant.

D1 was expanded northward into south-central Arizona due to lack of rain past 60-days, poor growing conditions, numerous small brush fires occurring out of season, and ranchers bringing in hay.

D2 was added in extreme southern Arizona (Santa Cruz, southeast Pima, and southwest Cochise counties) as farmers and ranchers reported extremely poor conditions and only half of the year-to-date rainfall. All typical forage is dead or dormant, and Patagonia Lake is down 4 feet from normal (versus 3 feet low last year).

D0 was also expanded into south-central Utah and D1 in southeastern Utah with similar conditions in neighboring northern Arizona.

National Summary: A series of storm systems traversed from the Canadian Prairies southeastward across the eastern half of the Nation during the week, with a strong weekend storm tapping ample tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and disorganized Tropical Storm Philippe that was eventually absorbed into the system.

With plentiful moisture available to the weekend storm system, widespread, copious rains (2-6 inches, locally to 12 inches) inundated most of the Northeast, especially New England, abruptly ameliorating short-term deficits accumulated during the late summer and fall months.

Heavy rains also fell on southern Florida (from Philippe), while light to moderate precipitation occurred in the Great Lakes region, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, and the Appalachians. With high pressure entrenched over the West, little or no precipitation was reported west of the Mississippi River.

Temperatures averaged well below normal east of the Rockies and to the Appalachians, especially in the South and Midwest that had weekly departures of -6 to -12 degrees. Sub-freezing readings were common across the northern and central Plains and Midwest, along with decent snows in the
upper Midwest.

In contrast, above-normal temperatures prevailed across the West and New England. Showers frequented the Hawaiian Islands during the week, maintaining a recent wet pattern that allowed for additional improvements to some windward locations.

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

U.S. Conditions
and Weather Report

Heavy Northeastern rain eradicated short-term drought, as weekly rainfall totaled 2 to 4 inches or more in the northern Mid-Atlantic States and parts of New England. Farther west, cool, damp weather limited Midwestern fieldwork. Snow blanketed the far upper Midwest, while periods of rain occurred from the Ohio Valley into the lower Great Lakes region.

In contrast, dry weather dominated the central and southern Plains and the lower Southeast, favoring summer crop harvesting and other fieldwork. Dry weather also prevailed in the Southwest, accompanied by temperatures that averaged as much as 5 to 10 degrees above normal. Similar readings, 5 to 10 degrees above normal, were noted in New England.

Across the South, a warming trend followed early-week freezes that ended the growing season in many areas north of a line from central Texas to the southern Appalachians. Elsewhere, cold, increasingly stormy weather engulfed the northern Plains and the Northwest. Weekly temperatures averaged 5 to 15 degrees below normal across the northern and central Plains and the upper Midwest.

Meanwhile, the Northern precipitation—including widespread snow—boosted soil moisture in areas still experiencing drought, but curtailed fieldwork and winter wheat emergence and establishment. 

USDA Weekly Weather
and Crop Reports

Colorado

For the week ending Nov. 5, 2017, cool and drier weather continued to accelerate harvest of several crops last week.

In northeastern counties, reporters noted harvest picked up for several crops, but winter wheat emergence slowed due to cooler temperatures and short days. There is some concern wheat fields might blow more this winter due to short cover. A reporter noted that lack of moisture continues to be a problem for rangeland conditions in
these areas.

Southwestern counties last week were again noted to be abnormally dry for this time of year, which is concerning.

In southeastern counties, harvest slowed slightly during cool and damp days, but reportedly progressed well where conditions allowed.

Statewide, corn was 50 percent harvested by week’s end, still behind last year and the average.

Stored feed supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 67 percent average and 33 percent light. Cattle death loss was 2 percent heavy, 66 percent average, and 32 percent light. 

Nebraska

Temperatures averaged two to eight degrees below normal for the week.

Precipitation was limited across the State. Dry weather allowed farmers to complete most of the soybean harvest and corn harvest advanced rapidly. There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 18 short, 79 adequate, and 1 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 19 short, 76 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Corn condition rated 3 percent very poor, 10 poor, 23 fair, 45 good, and 19 excellent. Corn harvested was 68 percent, behind 82 last year and 81 for the five-year average.

Soybeans harvested was 95 percent, equal to last year, and near 98 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 3 percent very poor, 8 poor, 27 fair, 51 good, and 11 excellent. Winter wheat emerged was 93 percent, near 97 last year and 95 average.

Sorghum condition rated 3 percent very poor, 3 poor, 15 fair, 48 good, and 31 excellent. Sorghum harvested was 66 percent, well behind 90 last year, and behind 84 average.

Proso millet harvested was 96 percent.

Pasture and range conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 11 poor, 43 fair, 38 good, and 5 excellent.

Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 3 short, 96 adequate, and 0 surplus.

Wyoming

Wyoming experienced cooler temperatures along with adequate moisture for the week. Eight of the 34 reporting stations reported above average temperatures for the week with the high temperature of 71 degrees recorded at LaGrange, and a low of 4 degrees at Lance Creek.

Below normal moisture was reported at twenty-three of the reporting stations with five stations reporting no precipitation. Yellowstone reported the most moisture with 1.87 inches.

A reporter from North Central Wyoming indicated that fall harvest and planting are wrapping up, calves are shipped and the snow they received this week helped with moisture.

A reporter from South Central Wyoming indicated that they are experiencing typical fall conditions. They also indicated that most of the calves are weaned, fall cow work is in full swing, and cattle are on fall pastures with no winter feeding yet.

A reporter from Southeastern Wyoming reported that late fall conditions persist.

Stock water supplies across Wyoming were rated 9 percent very short, 20 percent short, and 71 percent adequate.