Although October was not quite as dry as September across most of South Central Nebraska, it nonetheless marked the sixth consecutive month of below normal precipitation across the majority of the 24-county area. Therefore, the overall situation remained largely unchanged as the summer and fall of 2012 continued marking its place in history as one of the worst droughts in many decades. Throughout the month, all 24 counties remained under a federally-designated drought disaster, and according to weekly issuances of the U.S. Drought Monitor there was essentially no change whatsoever to drought classification. As a result, category D4 exceptional drought remained firmly in place across all or part of 15 counties, primarily those north of Interstate 80 and also west of Highway 183. Meanwhile, category D3 extreme drought persisted across most of the other nine counties, while only a small zone of category D2 severe drought held on in portions of Nuckolls and Thayer counties. Based on reports from around 50 NWS cooperative observers, and also incorporating radar-derived estimation, at least 85% of the area measured below normal precipitation in October. More significantly, roughly half of the area observed less than half of normal October precipitation, and roughly one-fifth of the area measured less than one-fourth of normal October precipitation. Focusing on actual precipitation totals, the majority of South Central Nebraska tallied between 0.50-1.75 inches. Mirroring trends from the past several months, the overall driest conditions remained anchored within the northwest half of the area. Per cooperative observers and a handful of automated stations, a few of the paltriest monthly precipitation totals included 0.17 at Greeley, 0.19 at Arcadia, 0.22 eight miles south of Elwood and 0.29 at Miller. In contrast, a few of the highest totals from eastern counties included 3.00 at Hebron, 2.20 at Bruning and 2.06 at Osceola. The majority of October rain was associated with thunderstorms on the 13th and 14th.
Over the longer range period from May through-mid October, most of South Central Nebraska only realized between 20-60 percent of normal precipitation. Far northwest counties were the driest of the dry over this time span, highlighted by Ord with 3.67, merely 21% of the normal amount of 17.73. For the week ending October 14th, the Nebraska Weather and Crops Report from the USDA indicated that 97 percent of the state's pasture and rangeland was in poor to very poor condition. State-averaged subsoil and topsoil moisture rated 98 percent and 95 percent short to very short, respectively. Because of dry soils, less than half of the winter wheat crop had emerged, nearly two weeks behind average. Statewide corn harvest was 80 percent complete, over one month ahead of average, and soybean harvest was also well ahead of average at 86 percent complete.

Drought in HARLAN, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 4.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in FILLMORE, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in GREELEY, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in NANCE, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in MERRICK, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in NUCKOLLS, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in POLK, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in THAYER, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in YORK, NEBRASKA
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor