May 2, 2022 www.hpj.com WEATHER WATCH 5

www.dayweather.com Cheyenne, WY

Potential AG & Livestock Concerns:

Arkansas Oklahoma South Dakota Wyoming Kansas Nebraska

Texas

Minnesota Colorado New Mexico Iowa Missouri

Arkansas: Fort Smith Colorado Denver Grand Jct. Pueblo Iowa Des Moines Sioux City To Date / Average Kansas: Concordia Dodge City Minnesota Moorhead St. Cloud Missouri Columbia Springfield Nebraska: Lincoln Norfolk North Platte New Mexico Albuquerque Oklahoma Oklahoma City Tulsa S. Dakota: Rapid City Sioux Falls Texas Amarillo Lubbock Wyoming Cheyenne Lander

Forecast and Data Prepared by:

National 7 Day Weather Pattern:

A: Above normal B: Below normal N: Near normal

Regional Weather Outlook For The Week of 4/30 - 5/6 WEATHER FOR 4/30 - 5/6

2022 Precipitation Totals Through 4/25

It will be another week of active weather for the northern tier and central/eastern plains moving into the month of May. The northern branch of the jet stream will send upper troughs about every other day and bring periods of moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms to the plains. Temperatures over the high valleys and northern Rockies may get cold enough for snow at times, including the mountains. The southern Rockies and Desert Southwest will remain the opposite as dry conditions will agitate ongoing drought conditions. Temperatures will reflect the jet, with cooler readings north and warmer in the south. Discussion: Periods of heavy rain and strong to occasionally severe thunderstorms will continue this week as several system work eastward through the Southern Plains. Discussion: Several disturbances will come and go during the period, but northern Colorado will be the biggest beneficiary. The rest of the region will remain dry and in a state of drought with temperatures remaining above normal a few degrees. Discussion: Much needed moisture should be coming to both states, with an organized trough early in the weekend, early in the work week, midweek, and possibly again at the end of the period. Some occasional snow is also possible. Discussion: With numerous storm systems on tap to drift through the state during the week, expect a cooler week with drought conditions being relieved somewhat. Some stronger storms may also be possible at times. Storms will be separated by brief dry periods. Another week of heavy precipitation, this time mostly rain, will continue to impact the plains, especially northern states. The precipitation is greatly needed, though, and will help mitigate ongoing drought conditions. Livestock stress will remain high. Discussion: Wyoming will have near normal precipitation this week, with heavy rain and occasional snow for South Dakota. The active jet stream will keep temperatures near normal or slightly below average. Discussion: A soggy week of weather can be expected for both states as numerous storm systems bring frequent chances for rain, some heavy, along with scattered thunderstorms. Discussion: Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms will come and go, with northern areas standing the best chance of steady rain. The rest of the state will probably lie too far south. Temperatures will reflect early May values.

14.41" / 12.58" 2.75" / 2.99" 1.46" / 2.80" 2.82" / 2.72" 9.29" / 7.37" 2.70" / 5.51" 2.46" / 5.17" 1.53" / 4.19" 4.81" / 3.57" 5.30" / 4.66" 10.07" / 10.33" 11.04" / 11.71" 2.52" / 5.29" 0.84" / 5.06" 1.43" / 3.62" 0.89" / 1.96" 4.78" / 8.19" 7.38" / 9.46"

Temperature Forecast

For 4/30- 5/6

Precipitation For ecast

For 4/30 - 5/6

National J et Stream Map For 5/4 National J et Stream Map For 4/30

N A A A N B A

1.70" / 2.99" 1.57" / 5.19" 1.99" / 3.74" 0.36" / 3.52" 2.06" / 3.22" 4.53" / 3.58"

B A B A B A N A N A N A B A N B

Weather Watch

Temperature swings, ongoing drought expected to linger

From record high temperatures to record cold, severe storms to ongoing drought, in typical March fashion the Plains weather was all over the board. That's not even mentioning fires, strong winds and blowing dust that all impact- ed at least some parts of the Plains. The northern Plains also experi- enced an early spring winter storm around the middle of the month includ- ing blizzard conditions, which strained young livestock. One example of the extreme tem- peratures was a record low of 0 degrees Fahrenheit in Bismarck, North Dako- ta, on April 16. This is the latest tem- perature at 0 degrees or colder in that spot on record. The cold was also felt farther south into the central and southern Plains with concerns for winter wheat, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On April 14, record lows were noted in Sidney, Nebraska, Colby, Kansas, and Dalhart, Texas, with 4 degrees, 9 degrees and 22 degrees, respectively. On the other end of the ther- mometer, just a couple of days earlier record highs were set. On April 12, this included Grand Island, Nebraska, and Concordia, Kansas, where temperatures soared to 92 degrees. It was even warm- er that day in Laredo and Del Rio, Texas, where readings of 103 degrees posted new records for the day. Looking at current worldwide observations, La Nia conditions con- tinue and will do so through at least the summer months. There's a decent shot La Nia will remain through the fall too. For the month of May, temper- atures are forecast from average to above normal from the southern Plains into southern Nebraska. The above normal readings will likely continue even further out through July for all of the southern to central Plains. Unfortunately, the outlook for pre- cipitation is not favorable considering ongoing drought. For the month of May, precipitation numbers will likely fall below average from the southern to central Plains with the exceptions of eastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma. Through July, concerns with lack of precipitation will likely continue from Nebraska south to Kansas along with western Oklahoma and western Texas. This lines up with expected drought concerns in the next several months. At least some level of drought is anticipated to remain or develop for most of the southern to central Plains, except in eastern areas of Texas and Oklahoma. I'm always keeping an eye to the sky (and the weather patterns), so watch for June's update. Editor's note: Regina Bird grew up on a farm near Belleville, Kansas. The views from the farm helped spur her interest in weather. Following high school, she went on to get a bachelor's degree in meteorology from the Univer- sity of Kansas. She currently works as a meteorologist for NTV and KFXL in central Nebraska. Follow her on Twitter: @ReginaBirdWX

Bird's Eye Weather

Regina Bird