Current Projects

• Nebraska Soil Moisture
• Wind Energy
• Evapotranspiration

New Service Climatologist

New Staff Member Joins HPRCC

The High Plains Regional Climate Center would like to introduce its newest staff member, Natalie Umphlett, our new service climatologist.  Natalie, a native of Georgia comes to us fresh off completing her M.S. in Meteorology at the University of Nebraska.   As our service climatologist, Natalie can help you get access to data, help with your HPRCC accounts or answer general questions about climate data.  She will also be helping with some HPRCC outreach to the community.  Welcome to Natalie.  We are happy to have her as part of the HPRCC staff.  You can reach her at 402 472-6764.

Source/Author: Dennis Todey - High Plains Regional Climate Center 10/08/08

September 2008 Climate Summary

Overall, September was cool for most of the region with monthly average temperature departures from normal ranging from 2-4°F below normal.  However, the entire month was not cool as most places experienced a cool spell at the beginning of the month, followed by warming through the end of the month.
Each state had precipitation amounts that were well above and well below normal.  North Dakota was a state divided with ample precipitation in the eastern half which helped to alleviate drought conditions and below normal precipitation in the western half where drought conditions persist.  Kansas had a similar situation with little to no precipitation along the Kansas-Colorado border and precipitation totals over 300% of normal in south central portions of the state.  Relief should be on the way however.  According to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook released September 18, these areas should show improvement over the next few months. ...More

Source/Author: Natalie Umphlett - High Plains Regional Climate Center 10/07/08

August 2008 Climate Summary

Much of the region experienced the hottest days at the beginning of the month with many stations setting records and reporting temperatures above 100°F (37.8°C). North Dakota and South Dakota, however, had their warmest days at the end of the month.
Generally, much of the region had average temperatures within 2°F (1.1°C) of their August normals. Widespread areas of below normal temperatures in Nebraska and Kansas occurred this August. The coolest areas were in northern and central Kansas where temperatures ranged from 3-5°F (1.7-2.8°C) below normal. Pockets of warmer than normal temperatures occurred in southwestern Colorado, northwestern Wyoming, western South Dakota, and western North Dakota. ...More

Source/Author: Natalie Umphlett - High Plains Regional Climate Center 09/05/08

July 2008 Climate Summary

Temperatures through the region returned more towards normal versus the below normal spring and early summer the entire region experienced. Most areas had average temperatures within 2 °F (1.1 °C) of their July normals. The exceptions within the region occurred in Northeastern Colorado, Southwestern Wyoming, and the Panhandle of Nebraska where average temperatures ranged 3-5 °F (1.7-2.8 °C) above normal through the month. Areas of well below normal average temperatures occurred in Eastern North Dakota and small portions of Northeastern Kansas where average temperatures ranged 2-3 °F (1.1-1.7 °C) below normal.
...More

Source/Author: Allan Curtis - High Plains Regional Climate Center 08/06/08

June 2008 Climate Summary

June 2008 was a cool month for the majority of the High Plains Region. Large areas experienced temperatures 2-5 °F (1-3 °C) below normal. The exception to below normal temperatures occurred in areas of Southern Kansas and Colorado. Those areas experienced temperatures as much as 3 °F (2 °C) above normal. The largest departures from normal in either direction occurred in West Central South Dakota (5 °F or 3 °C below normal) and South Eastern Colorado (4 °F or 2 °C above normal). ...More

Source/Author: Allan Curtis - High Plains Regional Climate Center 07/07/08

Scientific Assessment Captures Effects of a Changing Climate on Extreme Weather Events in North America

The U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research today released a scientific assessment that provides the first comprehensive analysis of observed and projected changes in weather and climate extremes in North America and U.S. territories. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change previously evaluated extreme weather and climate events on a global basis in this same context. However, there has not been a specific assessment across North America prior to this report. ...More

Source/Author: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 06/30/08

NOAA: Global Temperature Seventh Warmest for Spring, Eighth Warmest for May

The combined average global land and ocean surface temperatures for spring (March-May) ranked seventh warmest, while May was the eighth warmest since worldwide records began in 1880 according to an analysis by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. ...More

Source/Author: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 06/30/08