Photo: Geralyn Wichers

Prairie forecast: A slow cool down towards winter

Reading Time: 3 minutes Forecast issued October 29, covering Oct. 29 to Nov. 5, 2025 Highlights: Overview I can’t say last week’s forecast played out exactly as expected — but that’s not too surprising. Overall confidence was on the low side. While the models did a decent job with the big picture, a few smaller details didn’t line up. […] Read more




The Semi-arid Grassland Research Center was used in the International Drought Experiment as part of this research. Credit: CSU College of Natural Sciences

Prolonged drought causes unprecedented productivity loss: Study

Reading Time: 2 minutes Colorado State University — Extreme, prolonged drought conditions in grasslands and shrublands would greatly limit the long-term health of crucial ecosystems that cover nearly half the planet, says new research published in the journal Science. “Climate change is bringing more severe and longer-lasting droughts to many locations around the world. Some ecosystems have shown resilience […] Read more








Photo: Jun Zhang/Getty Images Plus

Prairie forecast: Looks like summer weather

Reading Time: 3 minutes Highlights: We appear to be in a fairly predictable weather pattern as the overall weather picture has been pretty good. We saw upper-level ridging last week bring average to above average temperatures across the Prairies. The forecasted area of low pressure over the eastern Prairies materialized as forecasted. As often typical with upper-level lows, the […] Read more

Photo: Geralyn Wichers

Prairie forecast: Warm, dry west; warm, unsettled east

Reading Time: 3 minutes Highlights Summary Last week’s forecast did well considering the unusually blocking pattern that developed. An area of low pressure did develop as expected over the west-central U.S. It tried to push northwards and eastwards but was kept mostly in place by a strong ridge of high pressure over the central and eastern Prairies. The models […] Read more