Drought expands across Nebraska; severe weather possible Friday

In line with the newest Drought Monitor from the College of Nebraska-Lincoln, almost three-fourths of the state is now in extreme drought or worse, which is up from about 62% final week.

Extra regarding is that 22% of the state is now in excessive drought, which is greater than double the proportion from final week.

Excessive drought now stretches from southwest Nebraska throughout a skinny strip of central Nebraska and into north-central and northeast areas of the state. Greater than two dozen counties are a minimum of partially in extreme drought.

Lots of the areas affected by the worst of the drought have seen little or no precipitation over the previous month and a half.

In line with the Nationwide Climate Service’s Hastings workplace, Greeley has gotten solely 0.19 inches of precipitation over that interval, which is 94% beneath the 30-year common for that point interval. Ord is in the same scenario, having seen solely 0.28 inches of precipitation, 92% beneath the 30-year common.

A lot of that very same space hasn’t recorded an inch of precipitation because the begin of the yr. Albion, for instance, has gotten solely 0.38 inches since Jan. 1, which is 3.73 inches beneath regular.

Lincoln has acquired 2.37 inches of precipitation since March 1 and a couple of.68 inches because the begin of the yr.

Nonetheless, Lincoln’s whole precipitation since Jan. 1 is about 1.6 inches beneath regular, which is why town and almost all of Lancaster County is in average drought.

The excellent news is that there are some first rate probabilities for rain over the subsequent few days.

A lot of the state is anticipated to see a minimum of some rain from Thursday evening via Saturday morning, though most areas are more likely to see lower than half an inch.

The most effective probability for rain within the Lincoln space seems to be Thursday evening into Friday morning. The climate service is forecasting a 60% of rain, with as much as half an inch attainable.

The most effective probability for extreme climate seems to return Friday, when Lincoln can be in an space of slight threat. It has a marginal threat for extreme climate Thursday and Saturday.

Friday’s climate additionally could possibly be hazardous for an additional motive: excessive winds. A heat entrance pushing via the world that is anticipated to ship the excessive temperature into the mid to higher 80s may even deliver sustained winds of 20-30 mph and gusts of 40 mph.