(Omaha, NE) -- This is the first time in several years that Eastern Nebraska is drought-free. The improvement is due to all the rain this year.
"In Omaha, at Omaha Eppley Field, precipitation since January 1 is 19.17 inches. The normal is 14.27 inches." Meteorologist Corey Mead tells KFAB Radio News. He says the National Weather Service statistics show Omaha rain is five inches above normal so far this year. Last year at this time Omaha was six inches below normal for rainfall.
He says the rain is coming from the Gulf of Mexico.
"The jet stream's configurations have allowed surface conditions to bring moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. That's typically our source to feed storms here in the Great Plains." Mead says.
Mead says there's an even bigger weather pattern allowing the jet stream to settle near Nebraska and pipe in that rain.
"We were in La Niña for a long time in past years. Early this year we switched to El Niño."
Last year at this time 75-percent of Nebraska was in drought, with Eastern Nebraska in Severe, Extreme, and Exceptional Drought.
This week only a few counties in far Western Nebraska have drought conditions, about 3-percent of the state, and zero drought in Eastern Nebraska.
ABOVE: June 20, 2024 Nebraska Drought Map from U.S. Drought Monitor.
BELOW: June 20, 2023 Drought Map showing Extreme and Exceptional Drought in Eastern Nebrsaka one year ago.