Drought conditions expand in Lincoln and statewide, but relief could be on the way
Drought continued to worsen last week, both locally and across Nebraska, but some relief could be on the way.
According to the latest Drought Monitor from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that was released Thursday, drought conditions expanded significantly across the state.
Nearly 35% of Nebraska is now in at least a moderate drought, including nearly 9% in severe drought. That's up from 28% moderate drought, with 6% severe drought, last week.
The portion of Lancaster County in moderate drought more than doubled in just one week, going from 37% to 76%, and the drought area now includes Lincoln.
Drought disappeared in Lincoln in late June for the first time in nearly two years, and it appeared it would stay away for a long time after the city experienced its seventh-wettest July ever.
But in the seven weeks since, only about 1.6 inches of rain has fallen, including only 0.11 inches so far this month.
Fortunately, conditions are forecast to change in a big way, at least for the eastern half of the state.
The National Weather Service is forecasting 2-3 inches of rain for Lincoln and many other parts of Southeast Nebraska from late Friday night into Monday morning.
"Our stretch of dry weather is nearing its end," The weather service's Omaha office said in a post on X. "Rain will be nearly universal this weekend across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa."
The weather service said the heaviest rain is forecast to fall along and to the south of the Interstate 80 corridor. There is a small chance of severe weather Saturday, which is also when most of the rain is likely to fall.
The rain this weekend will also usher in much cooler temperatures.
Lincoln has seen 12 straight days of above-average temperatures, with nine of those days hitting 90 or above, and Friday and Saturday are forecast to be above normal. But Sunday's high is forecast to only reach 63, followed by temperatures in the upper 60s to upper 70s Monday through Thursday.
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Associate managing editor
