LINCOLN- Over the past weeks, the drought in Nerbaska has only worsened with the hotter-than-average temperatures.

According to the latest Drought Monitor released on September 8th, more than 10% of the state is now in exceptional drought, up from just over 6% last week, and nearly 28% is in extreme drought, up from 20% last week.

Southwest Nerbaska continues to see the worst drought conditions, but in the past couple of weeks, northeast Nerbaska has started to feel a similar effect.

Parts of southern Lancaster County are now in severe drought; two weeks ago, the county was completely drought-free.

The city of Hickman recently instituted a 10-day voluntary water restriction because of the increasing drought conditions.

According to the Nebraska Farm Bureau, more than 60% of the state's corn crop and more than half the soybean crop is rated fair or worse, while nearly 80% of pasture land is in poor or very poor condition.

The good news, a cold front is moving through the state over the weekend which will bring cooler temperatures and multiple chances of rain that could amount to 1-2 inches in some areas.

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