High Plains Regional Climate Center

We are one of the 6 NOAA Regional Climate Centers. Our mission is to increase the use and availability of climate data in the High Plains region.

[Jared Rennie @jjrennie]

Look I'm the first person that will tell you it is hard to get weather and climate data from our NCEI/NOAA databases.

That's where the Regional Climate Centers help us get you the data you need.

A brief thread about the 6 RCC's that exist today.

[NIDIS Drought.gov @NOAADrought]

Spotlight on the Northern Plains as the growing season nears.

Soil moisture is below-normal in most of the region. Drought covers most of SD and large parts of ND and eastern MT/WY. Precip is likely this week in parts but next week looks warm/dry. https://t.co/9oi1colbTC @NOAA

[NIDIS Drought.gov @NOAADrought]

Spotlight on South Dakota, which is 100% in #drought and has been since November 2024.

36% is in Severe (D2)/Extreme Drought (D3).

Snow cover is almost non-existent and frozen soil conditions have locked in below average soil moisture. https://t.co/ZwTa97OBmo @NOAA

[NOAA NCEI @NOAANCEI]

The Prairies and High Plains experienced an abnormally warm autumn, with the most above-normal temperatures observed in the eastern part of the region: https://t.co/AobbB5uXNI #RegionalClimateOutlook @HPClimateCenter

[NIDIS Drought.gov @NOAADrought]

Extreme Drought (D3) covers large parts of the Northern Plains, including areas of MT, ND, SD, WY, and NE.

Much of the area in this D3 has seen precip deficits between 3” to 9” YTD. Outlooks for the next couple weeks look relatively warm and dry.
https://t.co/mljsjQDvLB @NOAA

[NIDIS Drought.gov @NOAADrought]

Spotlight on the Great Plains

Every state saw dryness and #drought expand this week. Extreme Drought (D3) is now present in MT, WY, ND, SD, OK, and TX.

Outlooks lean hot and dry for weeks out. If that holds, expect a major expansion of drought. https://t.co/FBeBP4uM9M @NOAA

[NOAA NCEI @NOAANCEI]

@NOAA @NWSCPC @WRCCclimate @NortheastRCC @MidwestClimate The Prairies and High Plains had a typical summer, with near-normal temperatures in the U.S. and cooler conditions in the central Dakotas. The Prairies, especially Alberta, experienced slightly warmer temperatures: https://t.co/Yks8ndwc8R #RegionalClimateOutlook @HPClimateCenter

[WWA @WWAnews]

Watch our latest webinar with speaker Emily Peters who covers findings from her thesis research on #climate-related hazard impacts and key factors tied to rurality that determine how impacts are experienced and perceived. https://t.co/Il7jMvhVq9

[NOAA NCEI @NOAANCEI]

May 2024 was very wet—two significant widespread storms moving through the Prairies during the first part of the month, bolstering topsoil moisture over much of the region after significant dryness in winter 2023. https://t.co/Dig8aSEFAq #RegionalClimateOutlook @HPClimateCenter

[NWS Omaha @NWSOmaha]

Here's a radar estimate of the rainfall last night. Amounts in the heavy band north of I80 are coming in the range from 3 to 7 inches!

[NIDIS Drought.gov @NOAADrought]

Spotlight on Kansas, where conditions in central and western areas are degrading as streamflows, soil moisture, and groundwater continue to deteriorate.

49% of KS is in #drought, including a just added small pocket of Extreme Drought (D3).

https://t.co/ABxTHznsAj @NOAA

[Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources @UNL_IANR]

The weather in Nebraska often has a severe impact on the state no matter what the season may be.

Rezaul Mahmood, Director of the @HPClimateCenter, provides climate decision tools through his research that Nebraskans can utilize on their operation. 🌦️

[NIDIS Drought.gov @NOAADrought]

May Drought Outlook

Improvement/Removal expected for all drought in the Midwest. Large parts of the Plains + pockets in the Northwest/N. Rockies too.

Development in FL (see #DroughtMonitor released today), MT, HI, and part of CO/OK/NM/TX.

https://t.co/7HFaZBrNnk @NOAA @NWSCPC

[NWS Omaha @NWSOmaha]

Preliminary Tornado Track Maps of the Arbor Day Tornado Outbreak 2024

We will continue to survey and add to this site in the upcoming weeks.

Our hearts are with everyone impacted.

For individual track maps and more information
https://t.co/Gu14Lr1au0

[High Plains Regional Climate Center @HPClimateCenter]

@WeatherNut27 Morning! There was a data issue over the weekend, it was resolved yesterday and the maps should be updated today. Shading over Long Island is currently being tested, but no official release date yet.

[Nebraska CropWatch @UNL_CropWatch]

A new online wind climatology tool provides detailed wind data for any location in #Nebraska, which will have practical, valuable applications for the #ag industry, energy sector & emergency services. Read more » https://t.co/bkj7tcSK9y

#NebExt @HPClimateCenter #agtech #wx #newx

[NOAA NCEI @NOAANCEI]

The Prairies and High Plains had warmer December temperatures, with record highs. A brief mid-January cold spell hit the western region before returning to warmer conditions by season end: https://t.co/qo4LzUAUKR #RegionalClimateOutlook @HPClimateCenter

[NIDIS Drought.gov @NOAADrought]

Spotlight on the Plains, where dryness and #drought have the potential to expand.

The 90-day % of normal precip shows why there isn’t much drought currently on the Plains.

The 30-day % of normal precip shows why conditions could soon worsen.

https://t.co/Akn3sPE4fJ @NOAA

[Geitner Simmons @GeitnerSimmons]

New wind-data software from High Plains Regional Climate Center @HPClimateCenter has practical value for firefighting, agriculture, energy sector

Climatologist offers great quotes, including likening wind dynamics to those of an ocean

https://t.co/7H8MHr4D7s

[Nebraska Today @NebToday]

A new wind climatology tool available online from @HPClimateCenter provides detailed wind data for any location in Nebraska, as well as the center's six-state region. https://t.co/6Ya72Q2kfn #Nebraska #UNL @UNLSNR @UNL_IANR