Water and Climate Update - September 16, 2021
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Water and Climate Update
September 16, 2021
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National
Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature,
and drought conditions in the U.S.
Precipitation ............................................................... 2 Other Climatic and Water Supply Indicators ............ 12
Temperature............................................................... 6 More Information ...................................................... 18
Drought ...................................................................... 8
Drought and water shortages continue in the West
Per the U.S. Drought Monitor West Summary for September 16:
“…Most areas of the West had no change in the drought depiction; however, changes in the
Northwest were a mix of slight improvement and minor degradation, mostly due to assessment of
earlier precipitation events, water-supply reports, and vegetation health. According to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, topsoil moisture was rated 100% very short to short on September 12 in
Washington, followed by 96% in Montana, 85% in California, 83% in Oregon, 79% in Wyoming, and
73% in Idaho. Meanwhile, USDA reported that at least one-half of the acreage devoted to rangeland
and pastures was rated in very poor to poor condition is [sic] eight of the eleven Western States, led
by Washington (96%), Montana (88%), and Oregon (87%). At the end of August, California’s 154
intrastate reservoirs contained 13.8 million acre-feet of water, just 60% of average for the date.
Preliminary reports indicated that statewide reservoir holdings were less than one-half of the end-of-
August average in Nevada, New Mexico, and Oregon.”
Related:
The West’s historic drought in 3 maps – Mercury News (CA)
Drought haves, have-nots test how to share water in the West – Associated Press
Utah’s water outlook slightly improved, but West remains in grip of long-term drought – The Salt Lake Tribune
(UT)
Montana farmers and ranchers face low yields, hay shortages in drought year – Bozeman Daily Chronicle (MT)
Petaluma enters Stage 4 water emergency amid drought concerns – Santa Rosa Press Democrat (CA)
Drought drying Carson River hits Nevada pastures, ranchers – Las Vegas Sun (NV)
Idaho has been hit by a tough drought. How do dry conditions impact local fisheries? – Idaho Statesman (ID)
Drought hit Washington hard and fast. Here’s what it has meant for farmers, wildfires – The Seattle Times (WA)
Washington Logs One Of Its Driest Stretches On Record – Patch.com (WA)
The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people
conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.
Water and Climate Update
Precipitation
Last 7 Days, NRCS SNOTEL Network
7-day precipitation
percent of average
map
See also:
7-day total precipitation
values (inches) map
Alaska 7-day
precipitation
percent of
average map
See also:
Alaska 7-day
total
precipitation
values (inches)
map
9/16/2021 Page 2
Water and Climate Update Last 7 Days, National Weather Service (NWS) Networks Source: Regional Climate Centers 7-day precipitation percent of normal map for the continental U.S. See also: 7-day total precipitation values (inches) map Last 7 Days, National Weather Service (NWS) Networks Source: Regional Climate Centers 7-day precipitation anomaly map for Alaska. See also: 7-day total precipitation values (inches) map 9/16/2021 Page 3
Water and Climate Update
Month-to-Date, All Available Data Including SNOTEL and NWS Networks
Source: PRISM
Month-to-date national
total precipitation
anomaly map
Last 3 Months, All Available Data Including SNOTEL and NWS Networks
Source: PRISM
June through
August 2021
precipitation
anomaly map
9/16/2021 Page 4
Water and Climate Update
Water Year-to-Date, NRCS SNOTEL Network
2021 water
year-to-date
precipitation
percent of
average map
See also:
2021
water year-to-
date
precipitation
values (inches)
map
Alaska 2021
water year-
to-date
precipitation
percent of
average
map
See also:
Alaska 2021
water year-to-
date
precipitation
values (inches)
map
9/16/2021 Page 5
Water and Climate Update Temperature Last 7 Days, National Weather Service (NWS) Networks Source: Regional Climate Centers 7-day temperature anomaly map for the contiguous U.S. See also: 7-day temperature (° F) map Last 7 Days, National Weather Service (NWS) Networks Source: Regional Climate Centers 7-day temperature anomaly map for Alaska. See also: 7-day temperature (° F) map 9/16/2021 Page 6
Water and Climate Update
Month-to-Date, All Available Data Including SNOTEL and NWS Networks
Source: PRISM
Month-to-date
national daily
mean
temperature
anomaly map
Last 3 Months, All Available Data Including SNOTEL and NWS Networks
Source: PRISM
June through August
2021 daily mean
temperature anomaly
map
9/16/2021 Page 7
Water and Climate Update Drought U.S. Drought Monitor U.S. Drought Portal Source: National Drought Mitigation Center Source: NOAA 9/16/2021 Page 8
Water and Climate Update Current National Drought Summary, September 16, 2021 Source: National Drought Mitigation Center “Open weather across much of the country favored summer crop maturation and fieldwork, including harvest efforts and winter wheat planting. By September 12, more than one-third (37 percent) of the U.S. corn was fully mature, while 38 percent of the soybeans were dropping leaves, versus respective 5-year averages of 31 and 29 percent. Meanwhile, among the 13 major production states that have planted some winter wheat, all except Oregon were at or ahead of the 5-year average pace. Oregon’s delay—4 percent planted, versus 7 percent on average—can be attributed to producers’ hesitancy to sow winter wheat due to drought. Rain was observed, however, in several regions, including parts of the South and East. Portions of the Gulf Coast region had to contend with Hurricane Nicholas, the eighth Atlantic Basin tropical cyclone to make a U.S. landfall in 2021. Nicholas, briefly a Category 1 hurricane, moved ashore on Texas’ Matagorda Peninsula around 12:30 am CDT on September 14, delivering heavy rain and gusty winds to the middle and upper Texas coast. Aside from the western Gulf Coast region, some of the heaviest rain (locally 4 inches or more) fell in northern New England, chipping away at lingering, long-term drought. Locally heavy showers also dotted the lower Southeast, including Florida’s peninsula. Lower Southeastern rainfall was enhanced by the arrival and passage of minimal Tropical Storm Mindy, which made landfall on St. Vincent Island, Florida, at 8:15 pm CDT on September 8. Mindy’s sustained winds were briefly near 45 mph, followed by weakening the following day as the remnant circulation moved northeastward across northern Florida and southeastern Georgia. Late in the drought-monitoring period, showers and thunderstorms provided some limited drought relief in the upper Great Lakes region. Elsewhere, fleeting showers dampened some of the driest areas of the West, temporarily aiding wildfire containment efforts. However, hot, dry weather soon returned across the West, limiting the overall benefit of the precipitation. In fact, temperatures broadly averaged above normal across the western half of the country.” 9/16/2021 Page 9
Water and Climate Update
Changes in Drought Monitor Categories over Time
Source: National Drought Mitigation Center
1 Week 1 Month
6 Months 1 Year
Changes in drought conditions over the last 12 months for the contiguous U.S.
Highlighted Drought Resources
• Drought Impact Reporter
• Quarterly Regional Climate Impacts and Outlook
• U.S. Drought Portal Indicators and Monitoring
• U.S. Population in Drought, Weekly Comparison
• USDA Disaster and Drought Information
9/16/2021 Page 10Water and Climate Update
Wildfires: USDA Forest Service Active Fire Mapping
Highlighted
Wildfire
Resources
• National
Interagency
Fire Center
• InciWeb
Incident
Information
System
• Significant
Wildland
Fire
Potential
Outlook
9/16/2021 Page 11Water and Climate Update
Other Climatic and Water Supply Indicators
Soil Moisture
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction
Modeled soil moisture percentiles as of September 11, 2021
Soil Moisture Percent of Saturation
Source: NRCS SNOTEL and Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN)
9/16/2021 Page 12Water and Climate Update Soil Moisture Source: NRCS Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) This chart shows the precipitation and soil moisture for the last 30 days at the Lind #1 SCAN site in Washington. Precipitation of 0.13 inches fell on September 10, producing a slight change in soil moisture at the -2-inch sensor. The total precipitation for the past 30 days was 0.14 inches, and the soil moisture sensors report very dry conditions at the site. Soil Moisture Data Portals • USCRN Soil Moisture • National Soil Moisture Network • NOAA Climate Prediction Center Soil Moisture • NASA Grace 9/16/2021 Page 13
Water and Climate Update
Streamflow, Drought, Flood, and Runoff
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
WaterWatch: Streamflow, drought, flood, and runoff conditions
Reservoir Storage
Hydromet Teacup Reservoir Depictions
Source: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
• Upper Colorado
• Pacific Northwest/Snake/Columbia
• Sevier River Water, Utah
• Upper Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas
9/16/2021 Page 14Water and Climate Update
Current California Reservoir Conditions
Source: California Department of Water Resources
Current California Reservoir Conditions
9/16/2021 Page 15Water and Climate Update Agricultural Weather Highlights Author: Brad Rippey, Agricultural Meteorologist, USDA/OCE/WAOB National Outlook, Thursday, September 16, 2021: “During the next several days, loosely organized shower activity across the South could result in additional rainfall totaling 2 to 4 inches or more. Meanwhile, a fast-moving cold front across the North will be followed by a stronger system, which is due to arrive in the Pacific Northwest on Friday. During the weekend, precipitation will push eastward across the northern Rockies and southward into northern California. Five-day precipitation totals could reach 4 inches or more in coastal and favored high-elevation sites in the Pacific Northwest. By early next week, a significant storm system will emerge from the northern Rockies and cross the northern Plains, delivering widespread precipitation and high winds. In contrast, negligible precipitation will fall during the next 5 days across the nation’s southwestern quadrant, from central and southern California to the southern half of the Plains. The NWS 6- to 10-day outlook for September 21-25 call for the likelihood of below-normal temperatures from the Great Basin to northern sections of the Rockies and High Plains, while warmer-than-normal weather will prevail along and east of a line from southeastern Arizona to Minnesota. Meanwhile, below-normal precipitation across much of the western half of the U.S. should contrast with wetter-than-normal conditions in the Pacific Northwest and from the Mississippi Valley eastward, excluding the northern Atlantic States.” Weather Hazards Outlook: September 18 – 22, 2021 Source: NOAA Weather Prediction Center 9/16/2021 Page 16
Water and Climate Update
Seasonal Drought Outlook: September 16 – December 31, 2021
Source: National Weather Service
Climate Prediction Center 3-Month Outlook
Source: National Weather Service
Precipitation Temperature
October-November-December 2021 precipitation and temperature outlook summaries
9/16/2021 Page 17Water and Climate Update More Information The NRCS National Water and Climate Center publishes this weekly report. We welcome your feedback. If you have questions or comments, please contact us. 9/16/2021 Page 18
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