A couple of potent weather systems brought decent precipitation to western and north central Nebraska in December. Rain and snow was reported with a system on December 13th with a second system bringing precipitation to the region December 29th. Valentine reported 2.22 inches of precipitation for the month which was their all time record wettest December on record. Precipitation totals across most of western and north central Nebraska were between an inch and two inches for the month. Locations in the far southwestern Panhandle and eastern Nebraska Panhandle, reported between a quarter and around a half an inch for the month. Drought conditions improved the most in the northwestern Sandhills and portions of north central Nebraska.

Drought in HAYES, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Exceptional (D4) drought conditions persisted through the end of December over all of Hayes County. The cooperative observer at Hayes Center reported 1.59 inches of precipitation in December. This was 1.11 inches above the normal of 0.48 inches.

Drought in CHASE, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted over the southwestern half of Chase county in December. Over the northeastern half of the county, exceptional (D4) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Imperial reported 1.78 inches of precipitation for December. This was 1.39 inches above the normal of 0.39 inches. At the Imperial airport, 1.71 inches of precipitation fell. This was 1.48 inches above the normal of 0.23 inches.

Drought in DEUEL, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought conditions improved from exceptional (D4) drought to extreme (D3) drought over central portions of Deuel county in December. Exceptional (D4) drought conditions persisted over far eastern Deuel county through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Chappell reported 1.27 inches of precipitation for December.

Drought in GARDEN, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted over the northern half of Garden County in December. Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted over the southern half of the county through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Crescent Lakes NWR reported 0.76 inches of precipitation in December. This was 0.38 inches above the normal of 0.38 inches. The cooperative observer at Oshkosh reported 0.86 inches of precipitation in December. This was 0.50 inches above the normal of 0.36 inches. The cooperative observer at Oshkosh 8SW reported 0.97 inches of precipitation in December. This was 0.51 inches above the normal of 0.46 inches. The cooperative observer at Oshkosh 10NE reported 1.00 inches of precipitation for December.

Drought in ARTHUR, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Across far northern Sheridan county, severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) drought conditions by the end of December. For the remainder of the county, moderate (D1) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Gordon 6N reported 1.52 inches of precipitation in December. This was 1.02 inches above the normal of 0.50 inches. The cooperative observer at Ellsworth 2W reported 0.60 inches of precipitation for December. This was 0.30 inches above the normal of 0.30 inches.

Drought in BOYD, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme (D3) drought conditions remained unchanged across Boyd County in December. The cooperative observer at Lynch reported 1.58 inches of precipitation for the month.

Drought in HOLT, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought conditions remained unchanged across Holt County in December. Most of the county was experiencing severe (D3) drought. In southeastern Holt County, exceptional (D4) drought was occurring. The cooperative observer at Atkinson 3SW reported 1.43 inches of precipitation in December. This was 0.87 inches above the normal of 0.56 inches. The cooperative observer at O'Neill reported 1.52 inches of precipitation for December. This was 0.81 inches above the normal of 0.71 inches.

Drought in WHEELER, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across far southwestern Wheeler County through the end of December. Across the remainder of the county, extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Bartlett 1W reported 0.88 inches of precipitation for December. This was 0.05 inches above the normal of 0.83 inches.

Drought in GARFIELD, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted over southern portions of Garfield County through the end of December. Across the remainder of Garfield county, extreme (D3) drought conditions continued through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Ericson 8WNW reported 1.09 inches of precipitation in December. This was 0.40 inches above the normal of 0.69 inches. The cooperative observer at Burwell reported 0.34 inches of precipitation in December. This was 0.37 inches below the normal of 0.71 inches.

Drought in KEYA PAHA, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted over the eastern three quarters of Keya Paha County through the end of December. Drought conditions improved from extreme (D3) drought to severe (D2) drought over the western quarter of the county by the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Springview 2NW reported 2.36 inches of precipitation in December. This was 2.00 inches above the normal of 0.36 inches.

Drought in ROCK, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Across the southern 2/3rds of Rock County, extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of December. Over the northern third of Rock County, exceptional (D4) drought conditions continued through the end of the month.

Drought in BROWN, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Across far northwestern and far southeastern Brown County, extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of December. Across the remainder of the county,  exceptional (D4) drought conditions continued through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Ainsworth reported 1.36 inches of precipitation for December. This was 0.79 inches above the normal of 0.57 inches. The cooperative observer at Elsmere 9ENE reported 1.56 inches of precipitation for December. This was 0.85 inches above the normal of 0.71 inches.

Drought in LOUP, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted over all of Loup County through the end of December.

Drought in BLAINE, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of December. The cooperative observer at Purdum reported 0.95 inches of precipitation for December. This was 0.30 inches above the normal of 0.65 inches.

Drought in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Across far southern Custer County, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of December. Over the remainder of Custer County, extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. At the Broken Bow Airport, 1.04 inches of precipitation was reported for December. This was 0.67 inches above the normal of 0.37 inches. The cooperative observer at Callaway 8WSW reported 1.05 inches of precipitation in December. The cooperative observer at Anselmo 2WSW reported 0.76 inches of precipitation for December. This was 0.08 inches above the normal of 0.68 inches.

Drought in EASTERN CHERRY, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Over far southeastern Cherry County, exceptional (D4) and extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of December. Over northeastern Cherry county, extreme (D3) drought conditions improved to severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Valentine Lakes NWR reported 1.24 inches of precipitation in December. This was 0.98 inches above the normal of 0.26 inches. At the Valentine airport, 2.22 inches of precipitation fell in December. This was 1.79 inches above the normal of 0.43 inches.

Drought in WESTERN CHERRY, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted over south central, southwestern, central and north central portions of Cherry county in December. Across far western Cherry county, moderate (D1) drought conditions persisted. Across a small portion of northwestern Cherry county, extreme (D3) drought conditions improved to severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of the month.

Drought in THOMAS, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted over all of Thomas County through the end of December.

Drought in HOOKER, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted over most of Hooker County through the end of December. Over far northwestern portions of the county, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month.

Drought in GRANT, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across most of Grant County through the end of December. Across southeastern portions of Grant County, extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month.

Drought in LOGAN, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted across all of Logan County through the end of December. The cooperative observer at Stapleton 5W reported 0.90 inches of precipitation for December. This was 0.22 inches above the normal of 0.68 inches.

Drought in MCPHERSON, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted over all of McPherson county through the end of December.

Drought in ARTHUR, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe (D2) drought conditions remained unchanged over northwestern portions of Arthur County through the end of December. Over the remainder of the county, extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Arthur recorded 0.74 inches of precipitation for December. This was 0.41 inches above the normal of 0.33 inches.

Drought in KEITH, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted over the northern third of Keith County through the end of December. Over the southern 2/3rds of the county, exceptional (D4) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Kingsley Dam reported 0.74 inches of precipitation in December. This was 0.33 inches above the normal of 0.41 inches. The cooperative observer at Ogallala reported 0.29 inches of precipitation in December. This was 0.11 inches below the normal of 0.40 inches.

Drought in PERKINS, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Exceptional (D4) drought conditions persisted over all of Perkins County through the end of December.

Drought in LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Exceptional (D4) drought conditions persisted from west central and southwestern Lincoln County into central and south central portions of the county in December. Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted over far northern portions of Lincoln County through the end of the month. Over the eastern quarter of Lincoln County extreme (D3) drought conditions continued through the end of the month with the exception of a small area of severe (D2) drought conditions over far northeastern Lincoln County. The cooperative observer at Wallace 2W reported 1.80 inches of precipitation in December. This was 1.31 inches above the normal of 0.49 inches. The cooperative observer at Hershey 5SSE reported 1.35 inches of precipitation for the month. This was 1.06 inches above the normal of 0.29 inches. At the North Platte Airport, 1.40 inches of precipitation fell. This was 0.95 inches above the normal of 0.45 inches. The cooperative observer at Brady reported 1.28 inches of precipitation for December.

Drought in FRONTIER, NEBRASKA
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted over far eastern portions of Frontier County in December. Over central portions of the county, extreme (D3) drought conditions were present. Over the western third of the county, exceptional (D4) drought conditions were present. The cooperative observer at Curtis reported 1.40 inches of precipitation in December. This was 0.91 inches above the normal of 0.49 inches. The cooperative observer at Eustis 2NW reported 1.53 inches of precipitation for December. This was 0.82 inches above the normal of 0.71 inches.