March 2019 Climate Summary Now Available

Historic Flooding Hits Eastern Nebraska

The combination of antecedent conditions and a strong storm system produced an historic flooding event in March for parts of the region, hitting eastern Nebraska especially hard. To put this event into context, soils were quite moist from wet fall conditions going into the winter season throughout eastern portions of South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. Bitterly cold temperatures kept soils frozen and moisture in place during mid-late winter. Winter snowfall was plentiful in these areas, with an impressive snowpack in place by mid-March. Then, a powerful storm system and warmer temperatures brought several inches of rain to portions of eastern Nebraska, causing a rapid melting of snow and high runoff due to the frozen soils. Rainfall and snowmelt overwhelmed streams and rivers throughout the region, many of which still contained ice, causing major flooding. Multiple dams and levees were breached, prompting flash flood emergencies for several communities. Record crests occurred on the Big Blue, Elkhorn, Loup, Missouri, and Platte Rivers in Nebraska. Numerous state highways were closed and even washed out, cutting off transportation to and from several communities. Railroads and bridges were damaged from ice jams and flooding. Livestock perished, and several people died after being swept away by floodwaters. Initial damage estimates have already exceeded $1 billion.

The growing season is quickly approaching, and producers have begun to assess the impact of harsh winter conditions on fields and planting decisions. Late planting is nearly a certainty this season due to the prolonged winter, as soils are thawing slowly and fields are muddy from excessive moisture. If wet conditions continue, the risk for crop disease will be high. Winter wheat damage has already been reported in Kansas and South Dakota. Winter wheat was damaged from exposure to extreme cold with no snow cover in Kansas, while constant melting and refreezing damaged the wheat in South Dakota. Winter conditions took a toll on livestock as well. Extreme cold and blizzard conditions hit the region just as calving season began, and cattle got stuck in muddy fields and were buried by snow.

For more information on temperature, precipitation, and impacts from climate in March in the High Plains region, please see the link to the full PDF of the summary: https://hprcc.unl.edu/climatesummaries.php