June-July third driest since 1885

    A look at dryland corn and soybean crops in the last week offers all the proof one needs to know that the last two months have been dry.
    How dry? Weather observation records for Imperial that date all the way back to 1885. Over all those years, the two months of June and July, 2021 were the third driest on record.
    Official weather observations by Weather Recorder Mike Francis of Imperial showed 1.28 inches of rain fell in June and only 0.52 inches in July.
    That total of 1.8 inches compares to 2002 when 1.49 inches of rain was recorded for the two months. The driest June-July period on record occurred in 1952 when only 1.22 inches of rain was recorded.
    The average total for these two months, dating back to 1885, measures 5.8 inches.
    The UNL drought monitor map as of Aug. 3 shows southwest Nebraska in varying conditions from abnormally dry, moderate drought to severe drought.
    The areas with severe drought conditions included the east half of Dundy County, the west half of Hitchcock County, the southeast corner of Chase County and much of Hayes County.
    A storm system moved through Dundy County and the eastern portion of Chase County Monday night.
    Reports from the NERain site showed areas north of Benkelman reporting over 2 inches of rain.
    Reporters in Chase County recorded .24 inches near Champion to .13 inches near Wauneta. Imperial received .02 of an inch Monday night.