This product will be updated June 13, 2024 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at drought.gov/drought-information-statements Please visit weather.gov/Omaha/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit drought.gov/drought-status-updates?dews_region=41 for regional drought status updates Drought Information Statement for Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa Valid May 9, 2024 Issued By: NWS Omaha/Valley Contact Information: nws.omaha@noaa.gov or 1-800-452-9074 SEVERE DROUGHT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AREA DROUGHT CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OVER NEBRASKA AND IOWA THANKS TO A WET SPRING 2024 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Drought conditions have mostly improved dramatically over the past six months with the greatest improvements occurring in March and April. Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): None D3 (Extreme Drought): None D2 (Severe Drought): None D1 (Moderate Drought): Pottawattamie and Mills counties in western Iowa and Dodge, Cass, Cass, Saunders, Otoe, Lancaster, Butler, Seward, Saline, and Jefferson counties in eastern Nebraska. D0 (Abnormally Dry): Gage, Nemaha, Johnson, Richardson, Pawnee, Platte, Boone, Colfax, Dodge, Washington counties in eastern Nebraska and Montgomery, Fremont, Page, Harrison and Shelby counties in western Iowa. Recent Change in Drought Intensity One Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: None No Change: A stripe of land through the Omaha metro to the Lincoln metro and much of Pawnee and Johnson counties in southeast Nebraska Drought Improved: A large part of the area spilling into Kansas and Missouri Drought category adjustments tend to be slowest in the winter months. Changes are more pronounced on longer timelines: Change Maps Over the Past 30 Days Precipitation A wet March and April has brought 150-200% of normal precipitation to much of the area with the exception of that same stretch through the Omaha and Lincoln metropolitan areas. Over the Past 30 Days Temperature After a much warmer-than-normal February, March was pretty close to normal. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts Many river levels in the area are above normal for the first time in years. Agricultural Impacts A Pender, NE farmer says the drought is one of his biggest concerns heading into the growing season. He says some recent rains have been helpful but much more is needed to replenish his subsoils. Fire Hazard Impacts A healthy spring green-up has significantly reduced fire danger across the area. (NWS Omaha) Other Impacts The Shenandoah City Council unanimously authorized a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan to assist in constructing a new wastewater treatment plant. The project will significantly reduce the need for water conservation efforts. Currently, Shenandoah remains in stage four water conservation. (KMA Radio) Mitigation Actions Shenandoah, IA remains in stage 4 water restrictions. As a result, the city announced that it will not open the public pool this summer. (WOWT) Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Streamflow reflects where the precipitation has been falling over the past 30 days. The entire area is experiencing normal or above normal streamflow for the first time since December 2021. Image Captions: Left USGS 7 day average streamflow NE HUC map Right USGS 7 day average streamflow IA HUC map Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture has improved in southeast Nebraska, climbing out of the dry categories. The wettest soil remains northwest of this part of the country. The crop moisture index reflects abnormally moist conditions for the entire area. Fire Hazard Impacts The local area is no longer considered to have “critical” fuel status. With the spring green-up fully in place, extreme fire danger is no longer expected. Red Flag Warnings have been halted in the area until this fall when fuels begin to dry out again. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast The map reflect the precipitation forecast for May 11th through May 17th. Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th will bring 1-2” of rain for areas along the Kansas and Missouri state lines. The wet March and April is spilling into May. May is the wettest month on average in the Omaha area, just beating out June and August. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook Rapid onset of drought conditions are not expected. Climate Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage The temperature outlook for May leans ever so slightly toward warmer than normal conditions across Iowa and much of the eastern CONUS. Though El Nino is fading, its effects typically lag behind the oscillation itself. The precipitation outlook reflects a common El Nino pattern of wetter than normal conditions in Iowa and Nebraska. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage April kicks off the wet season in the Corn Belt. It’s lived up to its history so far. The 1-month drought outlook calls for drought to continue improving and ending across much of the region thanks to the extra precipitation that may fall through the remainder of May 2024.