This product will be updated only when 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 November 11, 2025 Issued By: NWS Omaha/Valley Contact Information: nws.omaha@noaa.gov or 1-800-452-9074 AFTER A WET SUMMER, DRIER CONDITIONS ARE REDEVELOPING DROUGHT CONDITIONS ARE BEING REINTRODUCED TO PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST NEBRASKA U.S. Drought Monitor The area was drought free in early September with only 2% of the area considered “abnormally dry”. Drought intensity and Extent D4 (Exceptional Drought): None D3 (Extreme Drought): None D2 (Severe Drought): Severe drought was completely removed from the area on July 15, 2025. D1 (Moderate Drought): Moderate drought was reintroduced to northeast Nebraska on October 21st and has been expanding since. D0 (Abnormally Dry): The area considered to be “abnormally dry” has also been expanding since early September, generally expanding from north to south. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Drought Worsened: Most of northeast Nebraska No Change: Most of southwest Iowa and southeast Nebraska Drought Improved: None Over the Past 30 Days Precipitation A wet summer was welcomed, but things have dried considerably since then. Farmers trying to harvest their field often prefer drier autumns. October precipitation: Norfolk: 0.85” / Departure of -1.30” Omaha: 1.78” / Departure of -0.54” Lincoln: 1.94” / Departure of -0.20” Over the Past 30 Days Temperature Warmer than normal conditions had prevailed over 2025 before taking a cooler turn in July. A stormy pattern afflicting the area has brought some relief from the heat with temperatures pushing closer to normal. Norfolk Omaha Lincoln Average Temperature (June to date) vs 30 Year Average (1991-2020) +1.2° -0.3° -0.7° Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts None Agricultural Impacts U.S. winter wheat could use a moisture recharge for successful development. About 45% of US winter wheat growing areas are in some form of drought. (BrownfieldAgNews.com) Fire Hazard Impacts There are no current burn bans in the area. Other Impacts Drought is blamed for the death of a 380-year-old burr oak tree at Ponca State Park in northeast Nebraska earlier this spring - one of the state’s oldest. (NebraskaExaminer.com) Mitigation Actions As of 11/13/25, Shenandoah, IA remains in stage 4 water restrictions. (KMALand.com) As of 8/20/25, Auburn, NE ended its water emergency that had been in place for about 11 months because of ample rainfall in July and August. (Auburn.NE.gov) Regional Water announced that it has downgraded the “Level Red” advisory to “Level Yellow”, the next lower conservation level of its Emergency Water Conservation Plan. Included are the western Iowa communities of Avoca, Portsmouth, Westphalia, Kirkman, Tennant, Panama, Earling, Persia, Exira, and Brayton. (RWRWA.org) Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Interestingly, despite the dry conditions developing in northeast Nebraska and northwest Iowa, that same area is reporting above normal stream flow. Rivers and streams south of I-80 are running drier than seasonal norms. https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/images/index.php?mt=pa07d_nwc&st=ia IOWA https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/images/index.php?mt=pa07d_nwc&st=ne NEBRASKA Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Winter outlooks for eastern Nebraska and western Iowa suggest no strong lean toward wetter/drier conditions or warmer/cooler conditions. For that reason, drought conditions are not forecast to improve or deteriorate in this part of the country. Link to the latest: Questions, Comments, Resources The drought monitor is a multi-agency effort involving NOAA’s National Weather Service and National Climatic Data Center, the USDA, state and regional center climatologists and the National Drought Mitigation Center. Information for this statement has been gathered from NWS and FAA observation sites, cooperative and volunteer observations, USDAFS, the USDA and USGS. If you have questions or comments about this Information, please contact: National Weather Service David Pearson - Senior Service Hydrologist Taylor Nicolaisen - Meteorologist, Drought Focal Point