During November, 18 of the 24 counties in South Central Nebraska were completely-or-partially included in D2-or-worse drought, per weekly issuances of the U.S. Drought Monitor. For much of the western half of the area (especially west of a Greeley-Minden-Franklin line), November marked at least the fourth-consecutive month of below normal precipitation, prompting the return of D3 Extreme Drought to portions of South Central Nebraska for the first time since 2013. Meanwhile, for roughly the eastern half of the area, November precipitation trends were more encouraging as most places registered slightly wetter-than-normal for the month (totals commonly 1.50-2.00 inches). Of note, November finally broke a five-month streak of below normal precipitation at Hastings that had lasted from June-October. Although drought categories did not explicitly improve in the eastern half of the area, they at least remained status quo, stemming a gradual-worsening trend that had defined the preceding few months.
Breaking things down in more detail and focusing on specific drought categories: Clearly the most newsworthy November note was the late-month introduction of D3 to all of of Furnas/Gosper counties, along with adjacent portions of Dawson/Phelps/Harlan/far southwestern Buffalo (total of six affected counties). Within much of this area, November precipitation totals were incredibly meager, including as little as 0.04 at Wilsonville and 0.07 south of Elwood. However, the introduction of D3 was ultimately driven by slightly-longer term precipitation deficits, as several official NWS stations in the D3 area endured one of their driest August-November stretches on record, including record-driest at Elwood 8S (1.47) and Canaday Steam Plant/Lexington 6SSE (1.07). Slightly east of the official D3 area, Minden also notched its driest-on-record Aug.-Nov. with only 2.30. In addition to the six counties included in D3 by month's end, all-or-some of 12 other counties west of the Highway 81 corridor remained in D2 Severe Drought throughout the month. Meanwhile, the rest of South Central Nebraska remained in (or was newly-assigned) D1 Moderate Drought during November. Temperature-wise, although not as big of a drought-factor as it would have been during the growing season, November was certainly a warm one with most local stations averaging 5-7 degrees F above normal (among the Top-10 warmest-on-record at many of them).

Drought in ADAMS, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in BUFFALO, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in CLAY, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in DAWSON, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in FRANKLIN, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in FURNAS, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in GOSPER, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in GREELEY, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HALL, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HAMILTON, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HARLAN, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in HOWARD, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in NUCKOLLS, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in PHELPS, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in SHERMAN, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in VALLEY, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in WEBSTER, NEBRASKA
From 01-NOV-20 00:00:00 to 30-NOV-20 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor