Rain has not been in short supply for parts of eastern Nebraska during the months of August and September. As a quick recap, Eppley Airfield recorded 9.81 inches of rain during August, and Omaha set a new daily record rainfall total on August 20th of 6.71 inches, shattering the old record of 1.98 inches of rain set in 1969. It ended up being the 3rd wettest August on record for Omaha. While we haven’t received that kind of rain during the month of September, we are finally above average in our rainfall totals for the month and year.
So far in the month of September, Omaha has recorded 3.26 inches of rain, bringing our 2018 total up to 29.69 inches. This puts us above average by 4.15 inches and we are already above last year’s total of 26.40 inches. Over the past five years, August and September have recorded above average rainfall totals for 2014, 2015, and 2016.
All of this rain in 2018 is good news for drought conditions across Nebraska and Iowa. Parts of the region, especially areas north, south, and west of Nebraska are experiencing abnormally dry and even exceptional drought conditions.
In comparison, only 0.17% of Nebraska is currently experiencing abnormally dry conditions. Southwest Iowa is experiencing some drought-like conditions, but overall is only affecting 6% of the state.
