Near normal to above normal precipitation fell across western and north central Nebraska in August. This led to improving drought conditions across the area. Rainfall totals were generally in the 2 to 4 inch range for the month with some pockets of 1 to 2 inches noted in Custer, Chase, Perkins and portions of Holt county. Burwell was the driest station with 0.41 inches of precipitation for August. With the exception of a small area from northeastern McPherson county to southern Brown County, a one category improvement in drought conditions occurred during August across most of western and north central Nebraska.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) drought conditions by the end of August. The cooperative observer at Bartlett 1W reported 1.57 inches of precipitation for August. This was 1.82 inches below the normal of 3.39 inches.

Drought in GARFIELD, NEBRASKA
From 01-AUG-23 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-23 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe (D2) drought conditions over most of Garfield County, improved to moderate (D1) drought conditions by the end of August. The cooperative observer at Ericson 8WNW reported 2.71 inches of precipitation in August. This was 0.51 inches below the normal of 3.22 inches. The cooperative observer at Burwell reported 0.41 inches of precipitation in August. This was 2.88 inches below the normal of 3.29 inches.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions over the southern 2/3rds of Rock County improved to moderate (D1) drought conditions by the end of August.

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

Over the southern third of Brown county, severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) drought conditions by the end of August. Over far southern Brown County, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Ainsworth reported 1.77 inches of precipitation for August. This was 1.04 inches below the normal of 2.81 inches. The cooperative observer at Elsmere 9ENE reported 1.25 inches of precipitation for August. This was 1.69 inches below the normal of 2.94 inches.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions over most of Loup County, improved to moderate (D1) drought conditions by the end of August.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions, improved to moderate (D1) drought conditions over far northwestern and southeastern portions of Blaine County by the end of August. Over the remainder of the county, severe (D2) drought persisted. The cooperative observer at Purdum reported 3.84 inches of precipitation for August.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across southeastern Custer County through the end of August. Across the remainder of the county, severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) drought by the end of the month. At the Broken Bow Airport, 1.05 inches of precipitation was reported for August. This was 1.52 inches below the normal of 2.57 inches. The cooperative observer at Callaway 8WSW reported 1.17 inches of precipitation in August. The cooperative observer at Anselmo 2WSW reported 0.81 inches of precipitation for August. This was 2.29 inches below the normal of 3.10 inches.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of August across the southern quarter of Thomas County. Over the remainder of the county, severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) drought by the end of the month.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted over far southeastern portions of Hooker County through the end of August.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across far northern Logan County through the end of August. Over the remainder of the county, severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) drought and abnormally dry (D0) conditions by the end of the month.  The cooperative observer at Stapleton 5W reported 2.07 inches of precipitation for August. This was 0.34 inches below the normal of 2.41 inches.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) drought conditions over northeastern McPherson County by the end of August. Over most of the remainder of the county, severe (D2) drought conditions improved to abnormally dry (D0) conditions by the end of the month. The exception was over far northeastern portions of the county where severe (D2) drought persisted through the end of the month.

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

Across east central portions of Arthur County, severe (D2) drought conditions improved to abnormally dry (D0) conditions by the end of August. The cooperative observer at Arthur recorded 3.15 inches of precipitation for August. This was 0.85 inches above the normal of 2.30 inches.

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

Over far northeastern portions of Lincoln County, severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) drought conditions by the end of August. The cooperative observer at Wallace 2W reported 2.31 inches of precipitation in August. This was 0.34 inches below the normal of 2.65 inches. The cooperative observer at Hershey 5SSE reported 2.09 inches of precipitation for the month. This was 0.12 inches below the normal of 2.21 inches. At the North Platte Airport, 2.72 inches of precipitation fell in August. This was 0.16 inches above the normal of 2.56 inches. The cooperative observer at Brady reported 3.10 inches of precipitation for August.

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

Across the eastern third of Boyd County, severe (D2) drought conditions improved to abnormally dry (D0) drought conditions by the end of August. The cooperative observer at Lynch reported 3.24 inches of precipitation for the month.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions present over most of Holt County, improved to moderate (D1) drought conditions by the end of August. Over portions of far northeastern Holt County, extreme (D3) drought conditions improved to severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of the month. The cooperative observer at O'Neill reported 2.25 inches of rainfall for August. This was 0.84 inches below the normal of 3.09 inches. The cooperative observer at Atkinson 3SW reported 1.85 inches of rainfall for August. This was 1.24 inches below the normal of 3.09 inches.