Drought conditions improved in March over the eastern Sandhills, however, there was some expansion and degradation of drought conditions in southwestern Nebraska by the end of March. All counties with the exception of Sheridan County had severe (D2) or worse drought conditions by the end of March.

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

With the exception of far northeastern Boyd County, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of March. Over northeastern Boyd County, moderate (D1) drought conditions remained unchanged through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Lynch reported 0.14 inches of precipitation for March.

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

Across far northwestern Brown County, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of March. Across the remainder of the northern half of the county, extreme (D3) drought conditions improved to severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of the month. Over the southern half of the county, extreme (D3) drought persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Ainsworth reported 0.27 inches of precipitation for March. This was 0.93 inches below the normal of 1.20 inches. The cooperative observer at Elsmere 9ENE reported 0.53 inches of precipitation for March. This was 0.91 inches below the normal of 1.44 inches.

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

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted over most of Chase County through the end of March. Across far southwestern Chase County, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. Over far northwestern portions of the county, extreme (D3) drought conditions improved to severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Imperial reported 0.50 inches of precipitation for March. This was 0.63 inches below the normal of 1.13 inches. At the Imperial airport, 0.61 inches of precipitation fell. This was 0.18 inches below the normal of 0.79 inches.

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

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted over the northern half of Deuel County in March. Over the southern half of the county, extreme (D3) drought conditions improved to severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Chappell reported 1.86 inches of precipitation for March.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted over far eastern portions of Frontier County in March. Over the remainder of the county, extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Curtis reported 1.21 inches of precipitation in March. This was 0.28 inches above the normal of 0.93 inches. The cooperative observer at Eustis 2NW reported 0.64 inches of precipitation for March. This was 0.63 inches below the normal of 1.27 inches.

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

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted across all of Hayes County through the end of March. The cooperative observer at Hayes Center reported 1.32 inches of precipitation in March. This was 0.19 inches above the normal of 1.13 inches.

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

Across northeastern Holt County, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of March. Over southeastern portions of the county, extreme (D3) drought conditions improved to severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of the month. Over the western half of Holt County, extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted in March. The cooperative observer at Atkinson 3SW reported 0.54 inches of precipitation in March. This was 0.72 inches below the normal of 1.26 inches. The cooperative observer at O'Neill reported 0.67 inches of precipitation for March. This was 0.84 inches below the normal of 1.51 inches.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across far southwestern Wheeler County through the end of March. Across the remainder of the county, extreme (D3) drought conditions improved to severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Bartlett 1W reported 0.50 inches of precipitation for March. This was 0.85 inches below the normal of 1.35 inches.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted over the northern half of Garden County in March. 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 1.02 inches of precipitation in March. This was 0.18 inches above the normal of 0.84 inches. The cooperative observer at Oshkosh reported 1.62 inches of precipitation in March. This was 0.69 inches above the normal of 0.93 inches. The cooperative observer at Oshkosh 8SW reported 1.44 inches of precipitation in March. This was 0.32 inches above the normal of 1.12 inches. The cooperative observer at Oshkosh 10NE reported 1.38 inches of precipitation for March.

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

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of March over all of Rock County.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted over all of Garfield County through the end of March. The cooperative observer at Ericson 8WNW reported 0.50 inches of precipitation in March. This was 0.98 inches below the normal of 1.48 inches. The cooperative observer at Burwell reported 0.12 inches of precipitation in March. This was 1.26 inches below the normal of 1.38 inches.

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

Moderate (D1) drought conditions persisted over the western quarter of Keya Paha County through the end of March. Over the remainder of the county, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Springview 2NW reported 0.34 inches of precipitation in March.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across all of Loup County through the end of March.

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

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of March over the northern third of Blaine County. Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted over the remainder of the county through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Purdum reported 0.48 inches of precipitation for March. This was 0.69 inches below the normal of 1.17 inches.

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

Over far southeastern Cherry County, extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of March. Over portions of east central Cherry County, extreme (D3) drought improved to severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of the month. Over northeastern portions of the county, moderate (D1) drought conditions persisted. The cooperative observer at Valentine Lakes NWR reported 0.45 inches of precipitation in March. This was 0.59 inches below the normal of 1.04 inches. At the Valentine airport, 0.70 inches of precipitation fell in March. This was 0.31 inches below the normal of 1.01 inches.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across all of Custer County through the end of March. At the Broken Bow Airport, 0.22 inches of precipitation was reported for March. This was 0.94 inches below the normal of 1.16 inches. The cooperative observer at Callaway 8WSW reported 0.20 inches of precipitation in March.

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

Moderate (D1) drought conditions continued over most of western Cherry County through the end of March. Across south central and central Cherry County, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month.

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

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted over the northern half of Thomas County through the end of March. Across the southern half of the county, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across all of Logan County through the end of March. The cooperative observer at Stapleton 5W reported 0.69 inches of precipitation for March. This was 0.67 inches below the normal of 1.36 inches.

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

Over far northeastern Hooker County, extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of March. Over the remainder of the county, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across most of Grant County through the end of March. Across far northwestern portions of the county, moderate (D1) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month.

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

Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of March over all of McPherson County.

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

Across far southern portions of Arthur County, extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of March. Over the remainder of the county, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Arthur recorded 0.73 inches of precipitation for March. This was 0.40 inches below the normal of 1.13 inches.

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

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted across most of Perkins County through the end of March. Over far western portions of the county, extreme (D3) drought conditions improved to severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of the month.

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

Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted across most of Keith County through the end of March. The exception was over far northeastern portions of the county where severe (D2) drought persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Kingsley Dam reported 0.70 inches of precipitation in March. This was 0.22 inches below the normal of 0.92 inches. The cooperative observer at Ogallala reported 0.64 inches of precipitation in March. This was 0.48 inches below the normal of 1.12 inches.

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

Over the eastern third and far northern portions of Lincoln County, severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the end of March. Over central Lincoln County, extreme (D3) drought conditions improved to severe (D2) drought conditions by the end of the month. Over western and southwestern portions of the county, extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month. The cooperative observer at Wallace 2W reported 1.02 inches of precipitation in March. This was 0.14 inches above the normal of 0.88 inches. The cooperative observer at Hershey 5SSE reported 0.38 inches of precipitation for the month. This was 0.47 inches below the normal of 0.85 inches. At the North Platte Airport, 0.41 inches of precipitation fell. This was 0.59 inches below the normal of 1.00 inches. The cooperative observer at Brady reported 0.33 inches of precipitation for March.