Unusually long drought comes with extended risks
Nebraska is seeing its 7th driest year in 128 years. Symptoms include stunted crop growth, high fire risks, scarce hay, and dying trees, while spots of the Platte River have dried up.
By News Channel NebraskaNEBRASKA -- Though this week saw some sprinkles in Nebraska, a drought remains for the majority of the state. Officials explain this will have consequences for the coming year in the state.
Most of Nebraska this past week was in a severe or moderate drought, while some parts even were in an officially extreme drought, according to the latest data from drought monitors. In fact, it's the seventh driest year in 128 years, according to drought.gov. Symptoms seen by more than 600,000 Nebraskans this week include stunted crop growth, high fire risks, scarce hay, dying trees, while spots of the Platte River have dried up.
Climatologists at UNL said this drought has unusual longevity to it. Some sections of the Nebraska have been in a drought for nearly a year now. It started in winter for many regions; something that hasn't been the case since 2014, according to Brian A. Fuchs, Geoscientist and Climatologist of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
"It's a natural part of the cycle [...] Though we have seen more extreme weather events in the past few years," said Fuchs.
It's not just an inconvenience for picnic planning. It's a threat to Nebraska's economy, according to the Nebraska Farm Bureau.
"There probably will be [an impact on the state economy,] we have an economist on staff who works through those scenarios but it's a little too early to tell," said Nebraska Farm Bureau's President Mark McHargue. "It's getting critical."
McHargue explained that many cattle producers are having to choose between selling cattle, or investing in more low-inventory (ergo expensive) hay.
"There's more difficult decisions to make," McHargue said.
The Climate Prediction Center estimates Nebraska will see rain again come fall, though Fuchs said producers need it by the first or second week of August.
"To finish the production year, we need to catch timely rain," Fuchs said.
For now, officials advise you to keep kids and pets out of cars, check the forecasts, and stay hydrated -- but also be careful not to use water recklessly.
"Water conservation needs to always be on our minds," Fuchs said.