Drought in Eastern Cherry, Nebraska

Severe (D2) drought conditions over all of eastern Cherry county improved to moderate (D1) drought conditions in northeastern Cherry county in May. Across southeastern Cherry county severe (D2) drought conditions remained in place through May. The cooperative observer at Valentine Lakes National Wildlife Refuge reported 2.72 inches of precipitation in May. This was 1.19 inches below the normal of 3.91 inches. At Valentine, 2.54 inches of precipitation fell in May. This was 0.98 inches below the normal of 3.52 inches. The cooperative observer at Kilgore 1NE reported 3.47 inches of precipitation for May.

With the exception of southwestern Nebraska, drought conditions improved somewhat across western and north central Nebraska in May. A large portion of central and portions of north central Nebraska improved from extreme (D3) drought to severe (D2) drought. Locations over far southwestern Nebraska remained in extreme (D3) drought with some expansion in drought severity noted across Chase and Hayes counties.