The 2020 flood risk outlook is somewhat easing with recent favorable weather and that is also improving the prospects for the spring planting season. Martha Shulski, Climatologist with the University of Nebraska Lincoln School of Natural Resource says the region was put in an elevated flood risk back in October but a milder winter has helped ease the flood threat.

She says the 90-day weather outlook from NOAA has the region split with more favorable conditions from Nebraska south.

However, Shulski says the spring weather forecast for the northern plains indicates farmers will see planting delays again in 2020.

She says the good news is the lack of snow and frost in the ground in states like Nebraska and south is making some room for the moisture from the northern snowpack.