Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin December 2017 – February 2018. Dated March 2018.
A mix of conditions led to extremes this winter. Montana had its 11th wettest winter, while Kansas and Colorado had their 10th and 14th driest, respectively. Colorado also had its 10th warmest winter. Winter ended on a wet note in both upper and lower parts of the Basin. Missouri had its wettest February on record, while Montana had its 4th.
NIDIS is partnering with the Physical Sciences Division of the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory to examine the causes, predictability, and historical behavior of this and other droughts over the Northern Plains. Drought in the Northern Plains is understudied relative to other regions of the United States, and this study will help to lay a foundation of understanding of what aspects of the region’s droughts are predictable.
The Northern Plains drought started in the spring and summer of 2017 and sparked widespread wildfires and compromised water resources, leading to the destruction of property, livestock losses, and reduced agricultural production. These impacts were felt in South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, by the tribes of the Northern Plains, and in the Canadian Prairies. NIDIS and partners will be looking back at the 2017 drought through two lenses: how can we improve drought early warning and how can we improve preparedness and response to lessen the impact of drought.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for December 2017 – February 2018. Dated March 2018.
Temperatures were well above normal in the Southwest: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada all had top-10 warmest December-February on record. Dry conditions dominated the Southwest as well: California, Nevada, and Utah had bottom-10 driest December-February on record.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Southeast Region for December 2017 – February 2018. Dated March 2018.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Gulf of Maine Region for December 2017 – February 2018. Dated March 2018.
The first significant storm of the season, on December 9-10, brought 15 to 30 cm (5.9 to 11.8 in.) of snow to parts of New Brunswick. Several thousand customers lost power there. The storm was mainly a rain event over Nova Scotia with up to 70 mm (2.8 in.) over Cape Breton.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Northeast Region for December 2017 – February 2018. Dated March 2018.
A storm from December 9 to 10 dropped up to 11 inches of snow on the region. While impacts were limited to flight delays and slick roads, it provided the first measurable snow and first inch of snow for more than a dozen major climate sites.
Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Islands Region for November 2017 – January 2018. Dated February 2018.
Includes significant events and impacts, regional climate overview, and sectoral impacts for Q4 2017; regional outlook for February through April 2018.
January 2018 drought outlook for the states of California and Nevada. This two page document includes current drought conditions, a regional climate update, drought and climate outlook, and insight into the role drought might have played in the recent California wildfires.
During late 2016, the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC), and other regional partners convened four stakeholder meetings in the Midwest Drought Early Warning System (DEWS).