Hastings, Nebraska – Nearly 80% of central Nebraska finished July 2025 wetter than usual, with parts of Greeley, Nance, and Thayer counties soaking up over 7 inches of rain, capping off a month that brought the wettest July to Hastings since 2011.
According to the National Weather Service in Hastings, most of the 30-county coverage area received between 3.15 and 7 inches of rain, or 85% to 190% of normal. Hastings Regional Airport recorded 4.91 inches—129% above average—while Grand Island and Kearney also finished the month wetter than normal. Meanwhile, the driest conditions hit Franklin and Harlan counties, where totals lagged behind the rest of the region.
Wet weather impacted city streets, rural roads, and area farms, increasing localized flooding risks and making for challenging travel in low-lying areas, especially during the mid-July rainfall peak. Residents are urged to monitor local advisories, avoid driving through standing water, and check for updates if traveling near affected rivers or creeks.
This rain surge offered relief from dry spells seen in previous years, but spotty downpours still meant uneven totals by county. The National Weather Service encourages Nebraskans to join volunteer rainfall tracking networks and to use official online resources for hyper-local data.
Rain chances decrease as August begins, but any additional alerts will be issued if the pattern shifts.
