High Plains Mid Year Climate Update: January 1, 2009 - June 30, 2009
| PRECIPITATION: Nebraska saw a dramatic reversal in precipitation during the month of June. After 5 very dry months, the state received more precipitation in one month than it received total for the previous 5 months. However, the High Plains in June did not share in this excess of precipitation, with much of the region receiving well below normal precipitation. Areas of Oklahoma, Kansas and the Dakotas had less than 50% of normal precipitation. Below normal precipitation also oaccured over much of the eastern U.S. with only the mountainous western U.S. receiving large scale above normal precipitation. Precipitation totals for the first 6 months of the year through June 30, 2009 for the High Plains were well below normal stretching from Texas up through Oklahoma, Kansas and into the Dakotas. There are only two locations in the High Plains showing above normal precipitation for the first half of the year, South Central North Dakota and western Nebraska. It is interesting to note that the High Plains is similar to much of the U.S. in experiencing a drier than normal year so far. Only a portion of the Midwest and the central mountainous west have had an above normal year for precipitation as of June 30. TEMPERATURE: The High Plains during June 2009 saw below normal temperatures throughout much of the region, including all of the North and South Dakota, and Nebraska. However, temperatures were above normal during June 2009 in the southern portion of the High Plains including most of Kansas down into Oklahoma. The average temperature for the first 6 months of 2009 in the High Plains were above normal for Nebraska and Kansas but were below normal for South and North Dakota. The Northern High Plains including the area just outside our region in MInnesota and Wisconsin, is however, the only large region of the U.S. that has experienced below normal temperature during January 1-June 30, 2009. MAPS: The following maps have been generated for precipitation and temperature for the month of June 2009 and the year to date (January 1 - June 30, 2009) |
| Precipitation: |
| June 2009: Percent of normal precipitation High Plains |
| June 2009: Departure from normal precipitation High Plains |
| June 2009: Departure from normal precipitation U.S. |
| June 2009: Departure from normal precipitation U.S. |
| January 1- June 2009: Percent of normal precipitation High Plains |
| January 1 - June 2009: Departure from normal precipitation High Plains |
| January 1- June 2009: Percent of normal precipitation U.S. |
| January 1 - June 2009: Departure from normal precipitation U.S. |
| Temperature: |
| June 2009: Departure from normal temperature, High Plains |
| June 2009: Departure from normal temperature, U.S. |
| January 1- June 2009: Departure from normal temperature, High Plains |
| January 1- June 2009: Departure from normal temperature, U.S. |
