Nebraska Drought Conditions Improve After Summer Rainfall Boost

By Scout Nelson

Several rounds of summer rainfall have dramatically shifted Nebraska’s drought outlook, bringing relief to crops and soil moisture reserves. Earlier this year, 84% of the state faced drought, but that number has now dropped to 24%, thanks to timely rains during the summer months.

“This has been one of our wetter summers that we’ve seen, probably since the 2019 summer,” said National Drought Mitigation Center Climatologist Brian Fuchs. “At the start of the calendar year, we had 84% of the state in drought, and now we’re only at 24%. Having a wet period during the wettest time of the year has done a lot of benefit for our state.”

Fuchs noted that rainfall has been particularly helpful for crop production, with strong yield expectations for corn and soybeans. However, the excess water has created new challenges. “The wet summer, for the most part, has been very beneficial for ag production. What we have heard in the last month or so is some of the wetness has been problematic as far as disease, especially in corn crops and even on the soybean crops — causing some fungus and different conditions on those that will start impacting the yields.”

Despite these setbacks, the rains are replenishing soil moisture heading into the next production season. Fuchs explained that water added in the fall, once crops are done using it, helps rebuild reserves that will benefit the 2026 growing year.

Looking west, neighboring states Colorado and Wyoming remain in severe drought conditions. Fuchs cautioned that Nebraska depends on winter snowpack and water flows from those regions. “We really watch our western neighbors in the wintertime… what their snow numbers look like, and how that snow accumulates.” Reservoir management in those states will play a key role in Nebraska’s water supply outlook next spring.

Overall, Nebraska has moved from drought stress to a more balanced situation, though crop disease and regional water management remain areas of concern moving forward.

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