If it seems more humid in North Central Nebraska over the last few years, it’s not just you. The National Weather Service has confirmed that there are trends in place showing higher relative humidity readings that have been significant enough to affect our overnight lows, which have also been slightly higher over the last few years, although NWS meteorologists stated that the hike in humidity has not been enough to move daytime temperatures.
As to what the mechanism behind this trend may be, the weather service is not certain, although a few culprits may be playing a factor. One issue is that there is more rain. There have been several record- or near-record full-year precipitation totals in the last 5-10 years. There is also in increase in total irrigated acres. The MNNRD covers 3 million acres stretching from the west side of Springview and Bassett all the way west to the Sheridan County line east of Gordon and south to the North Loup River. According to the MNNRD there was a significant increase in irrigated acres in 2007-2008 when the District was about to be wrongfully determined fully appropriated and closed for new irrigation development. After the NE Supreme court reversed the determination, the district was open for 2500 acres of new development each year from 2011-2014. Following 8 years of studying the effects the new acres had on the aquifer, the Board of Directors allowed for 3000 new acres in 2022 and 2028 with roughly 5000 of those actually developed. While there was no net gain in certified irrigated acres, there was a gain in actual irrigated acres during that time.