September rainfall amounts, (NWS Hastings, Courtesy)
HASTINGS — September was historically dry across the Tri-City region, some places barely recorded any rainfall at all throughout the month.
According to the National Weather Service – Hastings, most locations across their county warning area only recorded 0.05 – 0.08 inches of rainfall. Areas that did see above normal rainfall was regulated to their six Kansas counties.
Some of the areas with the lowest precipitation included Arcadia and Litchfield, 0.01 inches; Rockville, 0.03 inches; Loup City, 0.05 inches and Bradshaw and Elba, 0.05 inches.
The area with the highest rainfall last month was Cawker City, Kan., with 4.72 inches, the only community in Nebraska on the list was Spalding, with 2.12 inches.
The Tri-Cities airports recorded the following during September.
- Grand Island, 0.36 inches, 18 percent of normal, 5th driest on record, driest since 1998
- Hastings, 0.24 inches, 12 percent of normal, 3rd driest on record, driest since 1991
- Kearney, 0.07 inches, four percent of normal, 2nd driest on record, driest since 1984
For reference, normal September precipitation amounts usually ranges from 1.70 inches – 2.50 inches, with lower amounts in the west, higher amounts in the east.
“Aside from Kansas, where rainfall provided widespread drought relief, most of the High Plains experienced unchanged or worsening drought conditions. On September 22, topsoil moisture rated very short to short ranged from 29% in North Dakota to 84% in Wyoming, with values also above 50% in Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska,” per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Nebraska drought conditions as of Sept. 24, (U.S. Drought Monitor, Courtesy)
