Percent of normal precipitation from Jan. 1 through March 31, (NWS Hastings, Courtesy)
LEXINGTON — Lexington recorded its driest start to a year in 78 years, while the severe lack of precipitation set records across central Nebraska.
According to the National Weather Service – Hastings, their entire coverage area was dry from Jan. 1 through March 31, but there was record or near record dryness for their western region. Most places recorded between 0.35 to 1.50 inches, but there were notable outliers.
From January to March, the areas with the lowest precipitation included Lexington, 0.13 inches, driest on record out of 78 years; Arapahoe, 0.14 inches; Cambridge, 0.22 inches, second driest on record out of 118 years; Elwood, 0.23 inches, second driest on record out of 123 years and Edison, 0.38 inches.
The areas that saw the highest precipitation were mainly within the six Kansas counties that NWS Hastings covers. Hunter, Kan., was able to record 2.52 inches, the only Nebraska community on the list was Hebron with 2.13 inches.
The Tri-Cities measured the following:
- Grand Island: 0.78 inches, sixth driest Jan. – March on record out of 131, driest since 1972
- Hastings: 0.77 inches, second driest Jan. – March on record out of 131 years, driest since 1929
- Kearney: 0.52 inches, fourth driest Jan. – March on record out of 131 years, driest since 2009
For reference, normal Jan. 1 through March 31 precipitation across the region ranges from 2.20 to 3.10 inches, generally lower in the west and higher in the east.
Due to the lack of precipitation, a swath of extreme drought, D3, conditions have spread across parts of central Nebraska, including nearly all of Buffalo County, the south half of Dawson County, northern Gosper County and the northern third of Hall County.
“Precipitation was nearly non-existent, particularly across the southern half of the region. This severe, persistent dryness, coupled with rapidly deteriorating drought indicators, forced widespread expansion and intensification of drought categories,” per the U.S. Drought Monitor in their March 24 update.
Drought conditions across Nebraska as of March 24, (U.S. Drought Monitor, Courtesy)
