SCOTTSBLUFF- Fall has entered the state with a break in the high temperatures and offered scattered clouds and some rain, but that is not nearly enough to get out of the Nebraska drought.

Scotts Bluff County moved into 100% severe drought from 99.19% the previous week and 17.6% three months ago. The southwest corner of the county changed to 8.7% extreme drought from 8.66% the previous week. It is worth noting that 31.36% of the county was in extreme drought in October 2021.

Gary Stone, water and integrated cropping specialist at the Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center, said the recent showers will not stop harvest.

“It is slowing it down but it isn’t going to bring it to a halt, unless we get an inch or more somewhere,” he said.

“Possibly some of the corn will be a little late,” Stone said. “That little extra moisture might give it a boost to get it finished. We haven’t had the hot days and higher wind speeds, it’s been cooler and the winds have dropped off so the corn plants aren’t going to dry out as fast.”

According to the National Weather Service extended forecast on Oct. 6, the Scottsbluff valley will continue to experience mild conditions with no significant moisture impacts on the immediate horizon.

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