Drought Information Statement for Western and North Central Nebraska Valid October, 17, 2024 Issued By: NWS-North Platte, NE Contact Information: This product will be updated November, 21, 2024 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/LBF/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates. Severe drought conditions have expanded into a large portion of north central Nebraska and the eastern Nebraska Sandhills. Abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions encompass the remainder of southwestern into portions of central Nebraska. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): No counties in western and north central Nebraska. D3 (Extreme Drought): No counties in western and north central Nebraska. D2 (Severe Drought):Sheridan, Cherry, Brown, Rock, Holt, Garfield, Loup, Blaine Thomas, Hooker, Logan and Custer. D1 (Moderate Drought): Garden, Grant, Hooker, McPherson, Logan, Custer, Lincoln and Arthur. D0: (Abnormally Dry): Garden, Deuel, Arthur, Keith, Perkins, Chase, Hayes, Frontier and Lincoln. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Link to the latest 4-week change map for The High Plains Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: All of western and north central Nebraska with the exception of portions of Sheridan, Garden, Arthur, Keith, Perkins, Chase, Lincoln, Hayes and frontier counties. No Change: Portions of Sheridan, Garden, Arthur, Keith, Perkins, Chase, Lincoln, Hayes and Frontier counties. Drought Improved: No counties. Precipitation Locations in far southwestern Nebraska and a strip from eastern Wheeler to eastern Holt county, saw the highest rainfall over the past 30 days with amounts around a quarter inch. Most of this fell in the third week of September. Elsewhere, precipitation amounts ranged from a trace to a quarter inch. Temperature Over the past week, temperatures have been well above normal across all of western and north central Nebraska. Over the past 30 days, well above normal temperatures were present over all of western and north central Nebraska. Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts “There are no known impacts at this time” Agricultural Impacts “There are no known impacts at this time” Fire Hazard Impacts Local fire partners have indicated that fine fuels (grasses) are cured in western and southwestern Nebraska and are ready to burn given the right wind and humidity conditions. Numerous grass fires have occurred over the past month and have increased in frequency over the past week. Other Impacts “There are no known impacts at this time” Mitigation Actions “None reported” Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Streamflow across the northern half of the area was normal to above normal for this time of year. Flows in the Medicine Creek, Frenchman, mainstem Platte River and Stinking Water Creeks’ are below to much below normal for this time of year. Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid 08 14 2024 Agricultural Impacts The crop moisture index across western and north central Nebraska, is excessively dry to Severely dry currently. Locations over north central Nebraska into the eastern panhandle are the driest. Fire Hazard Impacts Significant wildland fire potential is near normal for this time of year. However, fire partners have indicated that one hour fuels are cured in western and southwestern Nebraska and are ready to burn given favorable wind and humidity conditions. Numerous fires have been reported across the area over the past month with an increase in fires over the past week. Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast The precipitation forecast over the next 7 days calls for around a quarter to half an inch across southwestern Nebraska. For locations over the Sandhills into north central Nebraska, forecast precipitation is under a quarter inch. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. Rapid onset of drought is not anticipated across western and north central Nebraska. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The outlook for November calls for above normal temperatures. The precipitation outlook for November calls for below normal precipitation. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage For the remainder of September, drought conditions are forecast to expand over north central Nebraska. Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook