Dutcher said soil moisture deficits continue from 2012. “You have to fill up your profile to your root system first before the water goes on down to the aquifer,” he said.

Climatologists reviewing data to identify the locations and severity of drought on the Drought Monitor map must balance the dry conditions of the past few years with the current wet conditions.

Widespread rain

Svoboda said a plus for Nebraska is that 2014 rains have fallen across the state. “The overall moisture has been good, but not unworldly crazy,” he said.

He said Nebraskans aren’t seeing record-breaking amounts in the recent rainfall. “It’s all relative. It’s been so dry so many places for three or four years, so this seems like gang busters,” he said.

Despite the good news, those long-term deficits must be made up before all signs of drought are removed from the Drought Monitor map. Dutcher expects that Thursday’s new map will reflect only long-term drought conditions in Nebraska.

“The most stubborn area will be the southwest part of the state. They have the most ground to make up,” Svoboda said.