Extended forecast offers little drought relief for HRW areas

The National Weather Service (NWS) 90-day forecast continues to call for increased chances of below-normal precip across most of the Central and Southern Plains during the February through April period. The likelihood of below-normal precip is greatest in the driest southwestern portion of the region. Temperatures are expected to trend hotter than normal over Texas and Oklahoma during the three-month period, while there are “equal chances” for above-, below- and normal temps for Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska. Montana and the Dakotas are expected to see below-normal temps and above-normal precip through April.

The extended NWS forecast calls for above-normal precip and temps over much of the SRW production areas, with “equal” chances for both temps and precip in the other SRW areas.

Given the extended forecast, the Climate Prediction Center’s Seasonal Drought Outlook calls for drought to persist or develop across the Central and Southern Plains. Drought improvement or removal is likely across the Northern Plains. Drought is not expected in SRW areas.