What a spring this has been in Nebraska.
After the second coldest April on record dating back to 1895, May statewide temperatures are poised to rank in the top 10 warmest on record.
In addition, precipitation has been significantly below normal the past 90 days across most of east central, south central, and southeast Nebraska and concern is building for a potential worsening of drought conditions this summer.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor is beginning to reflect the seriousness of the dry weather impacting the central Plains.
Additionally, the slow start to our warm season row crops means crop-water demand is averaging a third to half of potential evapotranspiration (ET).
They also underscore our concern for potential crop stress if this heat continues and the southern third of the state continues to miss precipitation events.
Unfortunately, each push of cool Canadian air is quickly replaced by heat surging northward from the southern Plains.
Considerable uncertainty exists for the following week as another upper air low moves across the Northern Plains and brings another brief cool down as early as June 11 and as late as June 13.
The latest two-four week forecast issued by the Climate Prediction Center on May 25 centered on the final two weeks of June, suggesting above normal temperatures for the southern two-thirds of the country, including Nebraska.
The combination of a poor snow year and above normal May temperatures led to this quick demise and may be responsible for intensifying the heat across the Southern Plains.