Ward County remains among the areas of the state where drought conditions are present. However, statewide, conditions have improved slightly according to the Drought Monitor’s weekly assessment.
“Recent beneficial precipitation resulted in improving conditions across parts of the Dakotas and Wyoming. Short-term drought expanded across northeast North Dakota which remained to the north of the storm track.”
Ward County remains in the abnormally dry or moderate drought category. Conditions are worse in parts of the state to the north and east of Ward County where severe drought continues to exist.
Current weather forecasts contain the possibility of rain throughout the Minot region, including as far north as the Canadian border which could improve drought conditions in those areas.
El Nino Conditions Update
Climate Prediction Center – Monthly El Nino Conditions
ENSO Alert System Status: El Niño Advisory
Equatorial sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are above average across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.
The tropical Pacific atmospheric anomalies are consistent with weak El Niño conditions.
There is a greater than 90% chance that El Niño will continue through the Northern Hemisphere winter.
