PLATTSMOUTH - Cassgram reports the Platte River has dried up in parts of central Nebraska, including the Columbus area.

The latest drought map shows the extreme drought area of northeast Nebraska spreading southerly and westerly.

The exceptional drought of southwest Nebraska is impacting portions of nine counties.

Exceptional drought, the worst condition listed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is also identified in Dodge and Colfax counties near the Platte River at Schuyler.

Sarpy to Nemaha County in southeast Nebraska remains in the moderate drought range, but severe drought has been noted in portions of Richardson, Johnson and Pawnee counties for the first time this year.

The Nemaha NRD NE Rain project reports 58 days of zero rain since July 7.  So far in 2022, there have been only five rain events of two inches or more.

The Central Platte NRD has received a rain of two inches on eight occasions since July 18.

Two counties where the Platte River flows, Keith and Lincoln, are in exception drought. The area closest to Columbus is in extreme drought.

UNL’s drought monitor says 1.8 million people are in the drought zone.

Water conservation measures are expected along the Missouri River through the remainder of 2022.

The Missouri River at Nebraska City has not been above 11 feet since June 16.

The Weeping Water Creek at Union is at 2.5 feet today.