Weather

(Courtesy of South Dakota Mesonet)
Opinion, Weather, Weather Watch

July brought the heat and humidity

After record-setting July heat, parts of the Plains face continued above-average temperatures and the potential for expanding drought. Read More

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (Map courtesy of NDMC.)
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Heat continues to be the story for much of the Plains

Drought Monitor map - August 6, 2026
Drought, Drought Monitor, Weather

Heavy rains in portions of the High Plains and Midwest

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (Map courtesy of NDMC.)

Heat and dry conditions story of the High Plains

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (Map courtesy of NDMC.)

Heat causes degradations in drought map

Nebraska beef producers facing tough decisions, challenging year 

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (Map courtesy of NDMC.)

Rains fell on northeast Texas and other regions

More than a century in the saddle at the Waggoner Ranch 

Drought Monitor map for July 7, 2026

Drought conditions shift as storms bring mixed changes across Plains

  • By Curtis Riganti │ National Drought Mitigation Center
Producers in many parts of the state continue to irrigate and hope for rain while producers in other parts of the Texas have faced challenges related to excessive moisture. But overall, most areas of the state have received some relief from rain over the past 90 days. (Hannah Harrison -Texas A&M AgriLife)

Texas growing conditions split by rain: improved moisture, lingering drought

  • By Adam Russell │ Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
A wheat field near Hutchinson, Kansas, awaits cutting, as drought and other pressures will make it a challenging harvest. (Journal photo by Dave Bergmeier.)

Plan and act early for wheat seed