Colder temperatures have helped keep soils frozen so the moisture that was in the ground a few weeks ago is essentially the same. Nevertheless, most soil profiles in the state are on the dry side and January has been a very dry month for most of Nebraska. Exception is the far southeast, which had significant snow back on January 5th. Lowest soil moisture percentiles are found in north central Nebraska around Valentine and across the Panhandle where severe to extreme drought conditions are present. An area of soil moisture percentiles less than the 10th percentile also is present from North Platte down to McCook, where degradation has occurred recently.
by Eric Hunt, University of Nebraska Extension
January 27, 2025
Figure 1. Soil moisture percentiles from NASA SPoRT LIS
