Wildfire threat continues in Nebraska, Great Plains

An ag meteorologist says the threat of wildfires could stick around for an extended period of time in Nebraska.

“It would probably take multiple (rain) events at this point,” USDA’s Brad Rippey said.

Rippey tells Brownfield the state has a lot of brush and dry grass.

“We’re just getting so much wind, warmth and drying,” he said. “Things are just drying out really quick. Obviously, a better canopy of vegetation would help once summer crops are in the ground.”

He says some western counties have received some precipitation in recent weeks.

“We have gotten a little bit of rain and snow, which moistened things up, but it would take a little bit more sustained pattern to totally break that wildfire threat.”

Rippey says it’s been an active wildfire season in general across the Great Plains. Since mid-March, nearly 900,000 acres have been lost in Nebraska due to several outbreaks. The largest fire in the state’s history burned almost 600,000 acres.

Rippey made his comments during the NAFB’s 2026 Washington Watch.