Let It Rain: A look at where rainfall totals stand so far for 2023

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - It’s been a case of the haves and have nots when it comes to moisture. Some darting out of the gate to take an early lead while others are trying to play catch-up. Here is a look at where a few areas stand now in regards to filling the rain bucket.

Playing catch-up as you are still behind for the year — Playing catch-up as you are still behind for the year(KSNB)

Let’s start off to the east in the Lincoln area. It was a slow start to the race for the capital city and home of the Huskers with only 4.34 inches in the rain gauge for the first five months of 2023. That’s well behind your normal of 10.77 inches. Then came summer being much wetter than usual. This is where you managed to get ahead of the eight ball collecting 8.63 inches since June first allowing you to flow above the normal for this period by one and half inches. While you made some strides it hasn’t been enough as you are still a little under four inches for the year-to-date.

A slow start has made it difficult to come back — A slow start has made it difficult to come back(KSNB)

That’s okay. You are not alone as we head west to Hastings where it’s also been a rough go at it in the rain fall department. Starting off the first part of the 2023 with 5.18 inches for the months of January through May. Might be enough to make Kool-Aid, but not enough to fill the bucket completely to the rim. We have made some head way since the start of June almost covering the spread and filling the water pail with 5.28 inches. But thanks to a slow start we are still about four and half inches behind for the year.

Close to normal rainfall for area in Valley county — Close to normal rainfall for area in Valley county(KSNB)

Next, let’s head north to the Ord area. It was a great start to the year for the home of the Chanticleer with 7.92 inches in the rain gauge for the first five months of 2023. Just a little under your normal of 8.55 inches. Then came summer. You managed to stay under the sprinklers just a chin hair behind the eight ball collecting an additional 4.43 inches since June first. About a tadpole below the normal for this period by just a third. You have continued to stay in the rain game with 12.65 inches for the year-to- date with just under an inch behind normal. That’s great!

It's been a wet year out west — It's been a wet year out west(KSNB)

Now we head out west to Lincoln county, the home of Buffalo Bill and where rain has been plenty. North Platte exceeded the norm in the first part of the 2023 with a surplus of two and an half inches for the months of January through May. The water holes have been over flowing. You have continued to stay out front with a wet summer adding another four and half inches to the water trough bringing your year to date total to 14.51 inches. That’s about two inches above average.

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