Driest September on record

Record low precipitation

NCEI is still not fully functional so official numbers are still unavailable. But preliminary evidence would suggest September 2024 was the driest September on record. If it wasn't the driest, it certainly was in the top three driest. It was officially the driest on record in both Omaha and Norfolk and was in the bottom 10th percentile or lower for a significant majority of the state. Exceptions were the far southeast which had significant precipitation of 1.5-2.5" on the 21st and 22nd. A narrow area along Highway 281 from Greeley County to eastern Holt County had 1.5-2.0" on September 16th. Otherwise, almost everyone else received under half an inch. Many locations in eastern had under a quarter of an inch and a few spots in northeast Nebraska had no precipitation at all.

Abnormally warm

The same upper level pattern that kept us very dry also helped keep us warm. Temperatures were near-record levels for September in the northern Panhandle and were in the top 10th percentile for temperatures in much of western and north central sections of the state. The remainder of the state was also above average for temperatures, with afternoon temperatures being more above average than minimum temperatures. Triple digit temperatures occurred at times during the month in the Panhandle and everyone in the state had at least a few days with high temperatures in the 90's. The Chadron area had its latest 100F on record when a station southwest of Chadron hit 101 on the 27th. Sub-freezing temperatures occurred in parts of western NE during the last part of the month but most of central and eastern NE did not have temperatures that came close to going below the freezing mark.

September 2024 saw drought develop and/or intensify in much of the state thanks to record low precipitation and above average temperatures. Soil moisture continued to decline throughout the month and a majority of the state had 0-1 meter (0-3.3 feet) soil moisture values in the 10th percentile or worse. Areas that saw the most rapid intensification in September were in eastern and north central sections of Nebraska. Brown and Rock counties saw 3 category degradation during the month, which is potentially unprecedented for that late in the season.