Drought Information Statement for Southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle Valid October 24, 2024 Issued By: WFO Cheyenne, WY Contact Information: nws.cheyenne@noaa.gov This product will be updated November 21, 2024 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/cys/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates. Extreme (D3) Drought has expanded to include all of Niobrara County, most of Platte, Goshen, and Converse counties in Wyoming, and a large portion of Sioux County, Nebraska. Moderate (D1) to Severe (D2) Drought remains for nearly all east central Wyoming and northwest Nebraska Below-normal rainfall and high temperatures across most of the area helped worsen drought status 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): Small parts of Converse and Niobrara Counties D3 (Extreme Drought): Large areas of east-central Wyoming and a large part of Sioux County, Nebraska D2 (Severe Drought): Most of the counties in the northern Nebraska panhandle, large parts of Laramie and Albany counties D1 (Moderate Drought): southern counties in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the remainder of southeast Wyoming D0: (Abnormally Dry): a sliver of Cheyenne County, Nebraska Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened: Most of the counties in the southern Nebraska Panhandle. Almost all of southeast Wyoming except for areas in Platte and Goshen Counties. A large area of Sioux County, Nebraska No Change: Most of the northern counties in the Nebraska Panhandle Drought Improved: Nowhere Precipitation Precipitation was well-below normal for the last 30-days across the entire area. There was very little measurable precipitation across the entire area. Temperature Summarize conditions/impacts here Summary of Impacts Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Hydrologic Impacts Most streams and rivers are near normal to below normal for this time of year. Additional information from the USGS can be found here. Agricultural Impacts Growing season has generally ended with soil moisture generally below the 10th percentile. Visit the attached links for USDA Crop Progress and Conditions reports for Wyoming and Nebraska. Reduced crop production, early reliance on hay for cattle, supplemental water being provided to cattle. Fire Hazard Impacts Normal wildland fire potential expected in November for east central Wyoming and western Nebraska. The most recent significant wildland fire potential outlook can be found here. Other Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Through the month of October, drought conditions are expected to persist for most of east-central Wyoming and the northern Nebraska panhandle Links to the latest: Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook