Drought Information Statement for Western and North Central Nebraska Valid December, 21, 2023 Issued By: WFO North Platte, Nebraska Contact Information: nws.northplatte@noaa.gov This product will be updated January, 18, 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. 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for the High Plains Drought continues to improve across the area. Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): No areas. D3 (Extreme Drought): No areas. D2 (Severe Drought): No areas. D1 (Moderate Drought): Eastern Chase County. D0: (Abnormally Dry): Portions of the following counties: Custer, Lincoln, Chase, Frontier, Hayes, and Perkins. 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: Some one category degradation was noted over Hayes, Lincoln, and Frontier Counties. No Change: portions of Chase, Hayes, Frontier, Perkins, Custer and Lincoln Counties. Drought Improved: Portions of McPherson, Hooker, Logan, Thomas and Blaine Counties. Precipitation Conditions were driest over southwestern and far northern Nebraska with precipitation generally 25 to 75 percent of normal. Elsewhere, above normal precipitation fell over the past 30 days, mainly over the Sandhills. Link to HPRCC Temperature Temperatures over the past 30 days were above normal across all of western and north central Nebraska. Temperatures during this period were generally 3 to 5 degrees above normal. 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 There are no known impacts at this time. Other Impacts There are no known impacts at this time. Mitigation Actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Near or above normal streamflow was noted in the basins across the Sandhills. Generally below normal streamflow spanned southwest Nebraska and middle Platte basins. Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid December 20, 2023 Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture continues to remain adequate across most of western and north central Nebraska. There is some dryness noted over SW Nebraska, generally south of Interstate 80. Fire Hazard Impacts Wildfire potential across western and north central Nebraska remains normal for this time of year. Given optimal low relative humidity and gusty winds, fires could spread rapidly across the area. Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast There is a decent chance for 0.25” to 1.00” of precipitation over the next 7 days. The best chances are generally east of highway 83. 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 expected. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Equal chance of above, below, and near normal temperatures for January. Equal chance of above, below or near normal precipitation for January. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The small areas of D1 drought in Chase County will likely persist for the next month. Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook