Drought in Eastern Cherry, Nebraska

Over far southeastern Cherry County, exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of December. Over northeastern Cherry county, extreme (D3) drought conditions improved to severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Valentine Lakes NWR reported 1.24 inches of precipitation in December. This was 0.98 inches above the normal of 0.26 inches. At the Valentine airport, 2.22 inches of precipitation fell in December. This was 1.79 inches above the normal of 0.43 inches.

A couple of potent weather systems brought decent precipitation to western and north central Nebraska in December. Rain and snow was reported with a system on December 13th with a second system bringing precipitation to the region December 29th. Valentine reported 2.22 inches of precipitation for the month which was their all time record wettest December on record. Precipitation totals across most of western and north central Nebraska were between an inch and two inches for the month. Locations in the far southwestern Panhandle and eastern Nebraska Panhandle, reported between a quarter and around a half an inch for the month. Drought conditions improved the most in the northwestern Sandhills and portions of north central Nebraska.