November among driest ever in Iowa
10 counties in Nebraska experiencing exceptional drought
By News Channel Nebraska
IOWA – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports that November was one of the driest months on record.
The statewide average of .38 inches was 1.44 inches below normal.
Hydrology Resources Coordinator Tim Hall said there were no counties that came close to normal rainfall and some counties had no rain at all.
He said above-average rainfall in October has helped with drought conditions in the state.
In Nebraska, 18 counties are in the extreme to exceptional drought categories
Nebraska has 10 counties in exceptional drought, but overall drought conditions have improved over the past three months. All of Nebraska was experiencing some level of drought in December of 2022, but 59 percent of the state is drought free this December.
York, Hamilton, Polk, Butler and Clay counties have exceptional drought conditions with extreme drought from Platte County south to the Kansas border.
The U.S. Drought Monitor expects fish kills, cattle sold early, scarce hay, cracking pavement and stunted crop germination within these drought categories.