Text Products for DGT Issued by LBF

Drought Information Statement
Issued by NWS North Platte, NE
Versions: 1 2
000
AXUS73 KLBF 211518
DGTLBF
NEZ004>010-022>029-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-231530-

Drought Information Statement
National Weather Service North Platte NE
1018 AM CDT Thu Sep 21 2023 /918 AM MDT Thu Sep 21 2023/

...Over the past month, drought conditions have remained unchanged
across all of western and north central Nebraska...

.SYNOPSIS...

Over the past 30 days, precipitation was generally below normal
across western and north central Nebraska. There were a few pockets
of near normal to above normal precipitation. These areas were in
the eastern Nebraska Panhandle, as well as along a 50 mile wide
corridor which extended from Valentine to Callaway. Below normal
precipitation occurred in far southwestern Nebraska, as well as
locations east of a line from Ainsworth to Ansley. Precipitation
totals for the last 30 days were generally in the 1 to 3 inch
range across the area. Across far southwestern Nebraska,
precipitation totals were around a half an inch.


.LOCAL AREAS AFFECTED...

As of September 19th, according to the US Drought Monitor, severe
(D2) drought conditions were present over portions of southeastern
Custer, east central Holt, Blaine, far southern Brown, southern
Thomas and small portions of Hooker, McPherson and Logan counties.
Moderate (D1) drought conditions were present over a large portion
of Holt, Wheeler, Garfield, Loup, far southern Rock, most of Custer,
portions of southern Brown, southeastern Cherry, most of Thomas,
southern Hooker, Grant, and portions of McPherson and Logan
Counties. Abnormally dry (D0) conditions were present over Lincoln,
Keith, Perkins, Frontier and northern portions of Chase County.
Other counties with abnormally dry (D0) conditions included: Arthur,
portions of McPherson, northern Hooker, south central Cherry,
northern portions of Brown and Rock counties, portions of Holt
county and eastern Boyd county.


.RIVER AND RESERVOIR CONDITIONS...

River levels on the South Platte were running in the 25th to 75th
percentile for this time of year. River levels on the Loup, North
Loup and Niobrara rivers were generally in the 25th to 75th
percentile for this time of year. River levels along the South Loup
river were running in the 10th to 24th percentile for this time of
year. River levels along the North Platte system below Lake
McConaughy were near normal for this time of year. Streams in the
Frenchman and Stinking Water basins in southwest Nebraska were
running in the 10th to 25th percentile for this time of year.

Lake McConaughy currently has an elevation of 3228.9 feet or 49% of
capacity. This compares to an elevation of 3217.3 feet one year ago.


.FIRE DANGER IMPACTS...

Across western and north central Nebraska, thanks to precipitation
over the past 30 days and full green-up, fire danger is limited for
the time being. However, as we head into fall, once a freeze occurs,
fine fuels will be cured and ready to burn given the right
conditions.

For more information, please visit the North Platte NWS fire weather
web site provided below: or contact the North Platte fire weather
focal point: Darren Snively directly at darren.v.snively@noaa.gov.

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LBF/FIRE


.CLIMATE SUMMARY...

Summary of recent monthly precipitation from selected stations
across western and north central Nebraska. The summary includes the
previous 12 month precipitation totals: September 2022 to August
2023, the previous 6 month precipitation totals from March 2023
through August 2023, the previous 3 month precipitation totals from
June 2023 through August 2023, and precipitation totals so far in
September through the 19th.

              12 Month Precip/Inches       6 Month Precip/Inches

Location       Sep-Aug  Normal  Dep    |  Mar-Aug  Normal   Dep

North Platte    21.65   21.08  +0.57   |   16.58   15.92   +0.66
Valentine       26.16   20.90  +5.26   |   19.90   15.83   +4.07
Broken Bow *    17.74   22.90  -5.16   |   14.26   17.07   -2.81
Imperial *      18.99   17.47  +1.52   |   14.90   13.55   +1.35


               3 Month Precip/Inches     Thru Sep 19 Precip/Inches
Location       Jun-Aug  Normal  Dep    |   Sep 19  Normal   Dep

North Platte     8.58    9.28  -0.70   |    1.26    0.97   +0.29
Valentine       14.73    8.82  +5.91   |    2.19    1.03   +1.16
Broken Bow *     7.35    9.26  -1.91   |    1.54    1.37   +0.17
Imperial *       5.10    8.05  -2.95   |    0.71    0.81   -0.10

Primary location of precipitation data is from the automated sensors
at the airport.

*  Precipitation data includes a combination of automated sensors
   and cooperative data.

Average temperatures were near normal for April and June and above
normal for June.

                         Average Temperature/Degrees F

Location      Jun  Normal  Dep | Jul  Normal  Dep | Aug  Normal  Dep

North Platte  69.2  69.7  -0.5 | 73.7  75.6  -1.9 | 74.5  73.0  +1.5
Valentine     69.1  69.0  +0.1 | 72.4  75.7  -3.3 | 74.0  73.6  +0.4
Broken Bow    70.0  70.3  -0.3 | 73.4  75.3  -1.9 | 74.3  72.9  +1.4
Imperial      68.5  70.9  -2.4 | 75.1  76.5  -1.4 | 76.1  74.2  +1.9


.PRECIPITATION/TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK...

The latest 6 to 10 day outlook covering September 26th through
September 30th calls for above normal temperatures and near normal
precipitation.

The latest 8 to 14 day outlook covering September 28th through
October 4rd calls for above normal temperatures and above normal
precipitation.

The latest 30 day outlook for October calls for near normal
temperatures and above normal precipitation.

The latest 3 month outlook for October, November and December
calls for near normal temperatures and precipitation.


.NEXT ISSUANCE DATE...

This product will be routinely issued on or near the third Thursday
of the month. The next issuance will be October 18, 2023.

&&

.RELATED WEB SITES...

Additional information on current drought conditions may be found
at the following web addresses:

Local weather, climate, fire and water information
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LBF

U.S. Drought Portal
HTTP://WWW.DROUGHT.GOV

Additional river and reservoir information USGS -
HTTP://WATER.USGS.GOV CNPPID
HTTP://CNPPID.COM

U.S. Drought Monitor
HTTP://DROUGHTMONITOR.UNL.EDU

Climate Prediction Center
HTTP://WWW.CPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV

.ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...

The drought monitor is a multi-agency effort involving NOAA`s
National Weather Service and National Climatic Data Center, the
USDA, State and Regional Center Climatologists and the National
Drought Mitigation Center. Information for this statement has
been gathered from NWS and FAA observation sites, State
Cooperative Extension Services, the USGS and the Central Nebraska
Public Power and Irrigation District.

.QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS...

If you have any questions or comments about this drought
information statement, please contact:

Chris Buttler-Climate Services Focal Point
National Weather Service North Platte NE,
Christopher.Buttler@noaa.gov

National Weather Service
5250 East Lee Bird Drive
North Platte, NE 69101
Phone: 308-532-0921
E-mail: Christopher.Buttler@noaa.gov

$$
National Weather Service National Headquarters
