Drought in Nebraska, April 1 to 30, 2026

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted across Antelope County through the month of April, though improvements in areal coverage were observed. The coverage of extreme drought shrank from nearly 97 percent at the beginning of the month down to around 65 percent by the end of the month. The cooperative observers at Elgin and Oakdale recorded 1.90 and 2.14 inches of precipitation, respectively. These values were 0.89 and 0.73 inches below average.

Extreme (D3) drought conditions were present across far western Boone County at the beginning of the month, but conditions improved steadily throughout April. Extreme drought coverage was reduced to zero early in the month, while the coverage of severe (D2) drought or greater shrank from 100 percent at the beginning of the month down to around 60 percent. The cooperative observers at Albion and Loretto 7W recorded 2.46 and 2.38 inches of precipitation, respectively. These values were 0.21 and 0.24 inches below average.

Extreme (D3) drought conditions were initially present across 31 percent of Butler County at the beginning of April. Conditions improved steadily throughout the month, completely eliminating the extreme drought and leaving nearly 94 percent of the area in severe (D2) drought. The cooperative observer at Surprise recorded 1.94 inches of precipitation (0.91 inches below average). The CoCoRaHS observers at Brainard 1.1 S and Bellwood 5.8 W recorded 2.55 and 2.62 inches of precipitation, respectively. These values were 0.32 and 0.47 inches below average.

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted across Cedar County through the month of April, though areal coverage saw significant improvement. The coverage of extreme drought shrank from nearly 73 percent at the beginning of the month to just over 8 percent by the end of the month. The CoCoRaHS observer at St. Helena 4.1 SW recorded 2.29 inches of precipitation, 1.51 inches below average.

Extreme (D3) drought conditions were initially present across a trace of Colfax County at the beginning of April. Conditions improved steadily throughout the month, eliminating the extreme drought and shrinking the coverage of severe (D2) drought from nearly 48 percent down to just over 1 percent by the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Howells recorded 3.11 inches of precipitation (0.01 inches above average). The CoCoRaHS observer at Clarkson 9.3 SSW recorded 3.27 inches of precipitation (0.31 inches above average).

Severe (D2) drought conditions were initially present across 17 percent of Dodge County at the beginning of April. Conditions improved steadily throughout the month, erasing the severe drought entirely and reducing the areal coverage of moderate (D1) drought from 100 percent down to 61 percent. The cooperative observer at Fremont recorded 3.13 inches of precipitation, 0.11 inches above average.

Severe (D2) drought conditions were present in the extreme northwest corner of the county at the beginning of April. By the end of the month, conditions had improved significantly, erasing severe drought entirely and reducing the moderate (D1) drought coverage from 68 percent down to under 8 percent. The cooperative observer at Beatrice 1N recorded 4.57 inches of precipitation (1.69 inches above average). The CoCoRaHS observers at Barneston 0.3 N and Wymore 8.1 Ssw recorded 3.21 and 3.74 inches of precipitation, respectively. These values were 0.12 inches below and 0.41 inches above average.

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted across Knox County throughout the month of April. However, the area did observe a slight improvement in areal coverage, with the extreme drought shrinking from 100 percent to 94 percent by the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Orchard 9NNE recorded 0.93 inches of precipitation (2.00 inches below average). The CoCoRaHS observers at Crofton 4.4 WNW and Crofton 0.7 NNW recorded 2.22 and 2.36 inches of precipitation, respectively. These values were 1.00 and 0.77 inches below average.

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across Lancaster County through the month of April, though significant improvements in areal coverage were observed. The coverage of severe drought shrank from nearly 76 percent at the beginning of the month down to around 12 percent by the end of the month. The Lincoln Airport recorded 2.47 inches of precipitation, 0.22 inches below average. The cooperative observer at Crete 4ESE recorded 2.49 inches of precipitation, 0.09 inches below average.

Extreme (D3) drought conditions were present across Madison County at the beginning of the month, but conditions improved steadily throughout April. Extreme drought coverage was reduced to zero by the end of the month, while the coverage of severe (D2) drought shrank from 100 percent at the beginning of the month down to around 34 percent. The Norfolk Airport recorded 2.90 inches of precipitation, 0.17 inches above average.

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted across Pierce County through the month of April, though significant improvements in areal coverage were observed. The coverage of extreme drought shrank from around 87 percent at the beginning of the month down to around 4 percent by the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Pierce recorded 2.61 inches of precipitation, 0.23 inches below average. The CoCoRaHS observers at Pierce 2.6 NNE and Pierce 9.1 W recorded 2.28 and 2.26 inches of precipitation, respectively. These values were 0.66 inches below average at both locations.

Extreme (D3) drought conditions were present across Platte County at the beginning of the month, but conditions improved steadily throughout April. Extreme drought coverage was removed completely by the end of the month, while the coverage of severe (D2) drought shrank from nearly 99 percent at the beginning of the month down to around 11 percent. The cooperative observer at Columbus 3 NE recorded 2.85 inches of precipitation, 0.08 inches below average. The CoCoRaHS observer at Humphrey 5.7 SSW recorded 2.83 inches of precipitation, 0.08 inches below average.

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across Saline County through the month of April, though significant improvements in areal coverage were observed. The coverage of severe drought shrank from around 71 percent at the beginning of the month down to 24 percent by the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Friend 3E recorded 2.56 inches of precipitation, 0.17 inches above average. The CoCoRaHS observers at Milford 5.9 SSE and Tobias 4.7 SSW recorded 1.89 and 2.16 inches of precipitation, respectively. These values were 0.52 and 0.48 inches below average.

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across Saunders County through the month of April, though significant improvements in areal coverage were observed. The coverage of severe drought shrank from around 83 percent at the beginning of the month down to 19 percent by the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Mead 6S recorded 1.92 inches of precipitation, 1.00 inch below average.

Extreme (D3) drought conditions were present across a trace of Seward County at the beginning of the month, but conditions improved slightly throughout April. Extreme drought coverage was reduced to zero by the end of the month, while the coverage of severe (D2) drought shrank from 100 percent at the beginning of the month down to around 95 percent. The cooperative observer at Seward recorded 2.32 inches of precipitation, 0.14 inches below average. The CoCoRaHS observers at Utica 0.1 SSE and Seward 4.7 NE recorded 2.44 and 3.03 inches of precipitation, respectively. These values were 0.27 inches below and 0.40 inches above average, respectively.

Severe (D2) drought conditions were present across Stanton County at the beginning of the month, but conditions improved steadily throughout April. Severe drought coverage was removed completely early in the month, while the coverage of moderate (D1) drought shrank from around 88 percent at the beginning of the month down to around 37 percent. The cooperative observer at Stanton 7NE recorded 2.50 inches of precipitation, 0.04 inches below average.

Severe (D2) drought conditions were present across Thurston County at the beginning of the month. However, severe drought coverage was reduced to zero early in the month, and the coverage of moderate (D1) drought shrank from around 45 percent at the beginning of the month down to zero, leaving the county in abnormally dry (D0) status.

Extreme (D3) drought conditions were present across less than one percent of Wayne County at the beginning of the month and conditions improved steadily throughout April. Extreme drought coverage was removed completely early in the month, while the coverage of severe (D2) drought shrank from 100 percent at the beginning of the month down to around 42 percent. The CoCoRaHS observer at Carroll 6.35 WSW recorded 2.15 inches of precipitation.