Additional southeast Nebraska counties now under 'exceptional drought'

BEATRICE, Neb. - As drought continues its stranglehold on Nebraska, it's creeping further into the state's southeastern region. 

In the most recent drought monitor map released by the U.S. Drought Monitor, additional counties in southeast Nebraska are now considered to be in exceptional drought. On Thursday, parts of counties Lancaster, Seward, York, Fillmore and Saline were under the "dark red" exceptional category. 

Parts of Gage, Thayer, and Jefferson counties are under "severe drought."

All 93 of Nebraska counties are in some level of drought as of June 1, but heavy rain as of late has helped spare further east counties in southeast Nebraska of the worst as Pawnee and Johnson counties are listed as "abnormally dry."