2022 is driest year in Norfolk history

NORFOLK, Neb. -- Statewide this year's drought has yet to reach the dire levels seen in 2012, but for one community this year is drier than its ever been.

The National Weather Service said the City of Norfolk is over 9.3 inches short of the normal amount of precipitation for this time of year.

That makes 2022 the driest year on record in Norfolk to this point.

Norfolk's not alone, a number of communities in northeast Nebraska are between 25 and 50 percent of the moisture they are used to seeing by late August.

The latest drought monitor map showed that at least 20 percent of the state is experiencing either extreme or exceptional drought, and it doesn't look like much relief is coming.

NWS forecasters said to expect conditions to be warmer and drier than normal for most of the state for at least the next week.