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• Record High Temperatures Far Outpace Record Lows Across U.S.
• NOAA: U.S. Posts Third Coolest-Highest Precipitation for October on Record
• The RCC Report, Newsletter of the NOAA Regional Climate Centers
• October 2009 Climate Summary
• National Weather Service Visits High Plains Regional Climate Center
• Snowfall Statistics - Updated
• NOAA: El Niño to Help Steer U.S. Winter Weather
• NOAA Scientists Study Historic ‘Dust Bowl’ and Plains Droughts for Triggers
• A cold and snowy weekend
• Snowfall Statistics

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• National Weather Service Visits High Plains Regional Climate Center
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• Website Updates
• Helping Lincoln Go Green
• New Service Climatologist
• Website Updates

Region News

• The RCC Report, Newsletter of the NOAA Regional Climate Centers
• October 2009 Climate Summary
• Snowfall Statistics - Updated
• A cold and snowy weekend
• Snowfall Statistics
• September 2009 Climate Summary
• August 2009 Climate Summary
• July 2009 Climate Summary
• High Plains Mid Year Climate Update: January 1, 2009 - June 30, 2009
• June 2009 Climate Summary

AWDN

• Hardin Hall Weather Station To Feed Data Every Five Minutes
• New Nebraska AWDN stations added
• New AWDN Stations Added in Wyoming

National News

• Record High Temperatures Far Outpace Record Lows Across U.S.
• NOAA: U.S. Posts Third Coolest-Highest Precipitation for October on Record
• NOAA: El Niño to Help Steer U.S. Winter Weather
• NOAA Scientists Study Historic ‘Dust Bowl’ and Plains Droughts for Triggers
• NOAA: Warmest Global Sea-Surface Temperatures for August and Summer

January 1, 2009 - May 31, 2009 High Plains Precipitation Update

Source/Author: Ken Dewey - Applied Climate Sciences, School of Natural Resources, UNL 06/02/09

The 3.89 inches of precipitation in Lincoln during January 1 - May 31, 2009 is the 3rd lowest total for that time period during the past 123 years (1887-2009).  The following is a summary of how the rest of the High Plains Region is faring with precipitation so far this year. 

 

May 2009 marked the 7th month in a row with below normal precipitation in Eastern Nebraska. It is too early to tell if this is merely a dry spell or a return to drought conditions in the area. As shown on the following map, a large area stretching from the Texas Panhandle up to southwestern Minnesota has experienced well below normal precipitation since the first of the year (red colors).  The second map illustrates that a large area of the western U.S. has experienced below normal precipitation since January 1 (brown and red colors).  Only small areas of the lower 48 states have seen well above normal precipitation (blue and purple colors on the maps).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some January 1 -May 31, 2009 Precipitation (in inches) Updates:

Location	Precipitation Total	Normal	Deficit	% of Normal
Valley, NE	5.22	11.08	-5.86	47.1
Lincoln, NE	3.89	10.67	-6.78	36.5
Norfolk, NE	4.54	9.81	-5.27	46.3
Omaha, NE	5.63	11.08	-5.45	50.8
North Platte, NE	7.25	7.45	-0.20	97.3
Valentine, SD	6.67	7.06	-0.39	94.5
Sioux Falls, SD	5.42	8.87	-3.45	61.1
Huron, SD	5.98	8.02	-2.04	74.6
Mitchell, SD	5.78	8.84	-3.11	64.8
Sioux City, SD	5.04	9.71	-4.67	51.9
Salina, KS	5.97	12.65	-6.68	47.2
Dodge City, KS	5.77	8.37	-2.60	68.9
Garden City, KS	7.73	7.57	-1.84	75.7
Medicine Lodge, KS	7.78	10.82	-3.04	71.9
Eau Claire, WI	6.27	10.30	-4.03	58.1

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