This product will be updated by August 4th, 2025 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at drought.gov/drought-information-statements Please visit weather.gov/Omaha/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit drought.gov/drought-status-updates?dews_region=41 for regional drought status updates Drought Information Statement for Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa Valid June 17th, 2025 Issued By: NWS Omaha/Valley Contact Information: nws.omaha@noaa.gov or 1-800-452-9074 EXTREME DROUGHT (D3) HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AREA DUE TO RECENT SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL SUMMER LEANS HOTTER AND DRIER THAN NORMAL ACROSS THE AREA THIS YEAR 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): None D3 (Extreme Drought): Extreme drought was introduced to the area in May 2025 and then removed mid-June 2025 due to significant rainfall. D2 (Severe Drought): Severe drought is relegated to the western fringe of the forecast area. D1 (Moderate Drought): Nearly the entire remainder of eastern Nebraska is designated as “moderate drought” as is much of southwestern Iowa. D0 (Abnormally Dry): The remainder of western Iowa is now considered “abnormally dry”. Recent Change in Drought Intensity One Week Drought Monitor Class Change: Drought Worsened: None No Change: Western Iowa, northeast Nebraska, southwest Iowa. Drought Improved: None Over the Past 30 Days Precipitation While precipitation has been falling at a greater clip over the past 30 days, May and June represent the wettest months of year on average in this part of the country. Significant moisture will need to continue into July to see drought conditions improve further or even just hold on to current categories. Over the Past 30 Days Temperature Warmer than normal conditions had prevailed over 2025 before taking a cooler turn in June. A stormy pattern afflicting the area has brought some relief from the heat with temperatures pushing closer to normal. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts Groundwater levels in Nebraska generally dipped in 2024. Southeast Nebraska groundwater levels dropped 10-15 feet compared to 2023 according to a UNL study. (NebraskaPublicMedia.org) Agricultural Impacts A Falls City ag producer says recent rainfall has improved pasture conditions. (BrownfieldAgNews.com) Low water in stock ponds and limited water for livestock and/or irrigation. (weather.gov/MBRFC) Fire Hazard Impacts Widespread burn bans earlier this season have been lifted in Nebraska and Iowa. Other Impacts Drought is blamed for the death of a 380-year-old burr oak tree at Ponca State Park in northeast Nebraska - one of the state’s oldest. (NebraskaExaminer.com) Mitigation Actions As of 5/15/25, Shenandoah, IA remains in stage 4 water restrictions. (KMALand.com) Auburn, NE is pursuing plans to pull water from Long’s creek in response to the drought contingency stage 3 water emergency. (RiverCountry.NewsChannelNebraska.com) Residents in several western Iowa communities are back under the strictest level of mandatory water restrictions: "Level RED". Those communities include Avoca, Persia, Panama, Portsmouth, Westphalia, Kirkman, Tennant, Earling, Exira and Brayton. (KETV.com) Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts As is reflected in the drought monitor, Iowa’s hydrologic conditions are much closer to normal than those recorded in Nebraska. Despite being below normal - especially in the south - both states have reflected improved conditions through improved streamflow. Link to the Latest USDA Crop Progress Reports by State Agricultural Impacts Both measurements of agricultural moisture have improved over the past 35 days. Soil Moisture Ranking remains below the 10th percentile in the south-eastern portions of the area. Drought Outlook This area represents some of the eastern-most bastions of the wide swath of drought conditions in the western US. While we’ve enjoyed some recent improvements, the long-range forecast leans warm and dry. As a result, the Climate Prediction Center has forecasted that the drought will continue in eastern Nebraska and Iowa.