HASTINGS — Each community in the Tri-Cities reported at least the top ten driest September-October on record. Drought conditions have notably worsened across the state.
The National Weather Service – Hastings, noted that most locations in their county warning area only recorded 0.25 – 1.50 inches of rain throughout the entire month.
The driest locations in October included Rockville and Scotia, 0.11 inches, Greeley and Elba, 0.12 inches, Arcadia, 0.15 inches and Natoma, Kan., 0.19 inches.
The areas that managed to record the most precipitation included Clay Center, 2.11 inches, Franklin, 1.96 inches, Sutton, 1.93 inches, Deweese, 1.78 inches and Bradshaw, 1.77 inches.
For the Tri-Cities, it was historically dry over the course of September and October.
The Tri-Cities Airports recorded the following:
- Grand Island: 0.56 inches, 28 percent of normal, 30th driest October and 5th driest September-October
- Hastings: 0.98 inches, 50 percent of normal, 44th driest October and 8th driest September-October
- Kearney: 0.34 inches, 16 percent of normal, 18th driest October and 3rd driest September-October
For reference, normal October precipitation across the region ranges from 1.80 to 2.20 inches, generally higher in the east, lower in the west.
As a result of the dry conditions, drought conditions have worsened across Nebraska. A broad swath of severe drought, D2, conditions is present north of the Platte River across the state and includes all eastern Nebraska.
Locally, Hall and Adams counties are fully under severe drought conditions, Buffalo County is also under the same, save for a western swath that includes a mix of moderate drought, D1, and abnormally dry, D0, conditions.
“Dryness again dominated the region with only areas of far southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas, northeast Wyoming and northwest South Dakota recording any significant precipitation,” the U.S. Drought Monitor stated, “Severe and extreme drought expanded over much of western and southern South Dakota and also over western and northern Nebraska. Eastern Nebraska saw both moderate and severe drought expand.”
Nov. 1 Drought Report, (US Drought Monitor, Courtesy)
