Drought — Webster, Nebraska

2024-11-01 to 2024-11-18 · Webster, Nebraska

Wider weather episode

Although it did not fully eradicate the ongoing drought situation within South Central Nebraska, November 2024 precipitation was just what the doctor ordered for the entire 24-county area...especially in the wake of what had just been a Top-10 driest September-October on record in multiple spots. November still marked the fourth-consecutive month with Severe Drought (D2) plaguing parts of the area (per the U.S Drought Monitor/USDM), but widespread, well-above normal rainfall significantly reduced the areal coverage of D2 over the course of the month. In fact, many long-time NWS stations actually scored a Top-10 wettest November on record (see below for more precipitation details). Taking a closer look at county-level USDM drought category specifics within South Central Nebraska, November opened with what had been a steadily-worsening situation over the preceding several weeks: 1) D2 blanketed roughly 75 percent of the domain, including all counties along/east of Highway 281...2) Approximately 17% of the area contained D1 Moderate Drought (entirely within some counties both west of Highway 281 and along/south of I-80)...3) The remaining roughly 8% of real estate...entirely within portions of Dawson, Buffalo, Gosper, Phelps, Furnas counties...clung to Abnormally Dry (D0). However, several rounds of rain (including two primary events that each dropped widespread totals of at least 0.50-1.50) unfolded during the first three weeks of the month, stemming the tide of drought degradation and helping replenish soil moisture heading into the upcoming winter months. Ultimately, roughly 84% of the 24-county domain saw one-category improvement during the month (highlighted by a drastic reduction in D2). As a result, the official drought breakdown for South Central Nebraska at month's end stood as follows: 1) D2 now included merely around 2% of the area (solely confined to small portions of Dawson/Sherman/Valley counties)...2) In tandem with the decrease in D2, D1 coverage spiked up to encompass approximately 77% of the area...3) The remaining roughly 21% of real estate (entirely within counties in the southwest quadrant of the area) featured D0.

Turning to November 2024 rainfall details (there was no measurable snow), it was simply good news all-around. Not only did the entirety of South Central Nebraska register solidly above normal precipitation (normal being around 1.08 inches), but roughly 88% of the 24-county area saw at least twice-normal, and slightly over one-fifth of the area boasted at least THREE TIMES NORMAL! Per around 120 NWS and NeRAIN/CoCoRaHS observers, some of the very-highest November totals concentrated mostly within the southern half of the area, highlighted by: 4.18 six miles north of Riverton, 3.94 in Minden, 3.82 near Ohiowa, 3.72 in Naponee and 3.65 near Red Cloud. Several long-time NWS stations recorded a Top 5-10 wettest November on record, including Minden (3.94...wettest of 131 years), Naponee (3.72...2nd-wettest of 85 years) and Red Cloud (3.44...3rd-wettest of 131 years). Even the overall-driest local stations still finished the month respectably above-normal, including: 1.71 near Elyria and also at Lexington airport, 1.74 near Litchfield and 1.89 in Ord.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1219994. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.