NEBRASKA — Portions of western Nebraska are dealing with drought conditions not seen in the state in almost 10 years. 

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about 4.6 percent of Nebraska's land is under exceptional drought conditions. This is the most critical classification the drought monitor uses. The last time any of Nebraska was placed in this category was September 2013.

Counties impacted include Deuel, Arthur, Keith, Hayes, Hitchcock, Red Willow and portions of Lincoln and Frontier counties. 

Elsewhere across the state, northwestern Nebraska saw some improvements thanks to recent monsoonal moisture. Some of extreme northeast Nebraska was removed from the extreme drought category and placed into the severe drought category, a one classification improvement. 

In southeast Nebraska, abnormally dry conditions are returning to the area after a June and July of not being in a drought, according to the drought monitor. 

This map shows drought conditions in Nebraska as of August 9.
This map shows drought conditions in Nebraska as of August 9. U.S. Drought Monitor

Although the exceptional drought conditions are back for some Nebraskans, this year's drought is not as bad as the one that hit Nebraska in 2012 and 2013 from a statewide perspective. During that drought's peak, roughly 77 percent of Nebraska's land was classified as being in exceptional drought conditions, according to drought monitor data. At least 70 percent of the state experienced those conditions from September 2012 through early April 2013. 

 

This graph shows how widespread drought conditions were in Nebraska from 2000 through the present.
This graph shows how widespread drought conditions were in Nebraska from 2000 through the present. U.S. Drought Monitor

Officials at the U.S. Climate Prediction Center expect drought conditions to persist in Nebraska in August, but they also predict those hardest hit areas in southeast Nebraska to see improvement. Conditions may worsen in eastern Nebraska, however.