Rainfall across Kansas was uneven during the past week, with some areas receiving several inches of rain while much of south-central Kansas, including Hutchinson, remained well below normal. Despite the scattered heavy rainfall, the latest U.S. Drought Monitor showed only minor changes in drought conditions across the state.
The statewide average precipitation for the week ending July 14 was 0.90 inches, essentially normal for the period. Northeast Kansas received the most rain, averaging just over 2 inches, while south-central Kansas averaged only 0.36 inches. Locally, Hutchinson recorded just 0.12 inches of rainfall, and Wichita measured 0.19 inches.
The July 14 U.S. Drought Monitor showed only minor adjustments statewide. Small improvements were made in portions of western Kansas, while parts of central Kansas experienced slight degradations. Overall, 59% of Kansas remains free of any drought designation, while about 27% of the state is classified in moderate drought or worse. The state's Drought Severity and Coverage Index fell to 73, its lowest level in four months.
Looking ahead, the outlook is not especially encouraging for areas needing additional moisture. Forecasters expect below-normal precipitation across Kansas through July 21, with most locations receiving a tenth of an inch of rain or less. Temperatures are expected to climb back above normal, with highs approaching 100 degrees in many areas by the beginning of next week.
Data for this article was provided by Matthew C. Sittel, Assistant State Climatologist at the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University.
The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Map data courtesy of NDMC.