Drought in Garden, Nebraska

Severe (D2) drought conditions, deteriorated to extreme (D3) drought conditions over western, central and northwestern Garden County by the end of February. Over the remainder of the county, moderate (D1) and severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Crescent Lakes NWR reported 0.08 inches of precipitation for February. This was 0.34 inches below the normal of 0.42 inches. The cooperative observer at Oshkosh 8SW reported 0.08 inches of precipitation for February. This was 0.39 inches below the normal of 0.47 inches. The cooperative station at Oshkosh 10NE reported 0.19 inches of precipitation in February.

Continued dry conditions in February, coupled with very warm temperatures, led to expansion of drought conditions across western and north central Nebraska in February. Locations in the western Sandhills, portions of southwestern Nebraska, the eastern Nebraska Panhandle and portions of north central Nebraska, saw drought conditions reaching severe (D2) and even extreme (D3) drought conditions by the end of February.