RSS FeedsSouthwest Kansas Drought Page
Last Updated August 12, 2009
This page will be updated approximately once a month or as conditions warrant.
SW Kansas Drought Summary:So far this summer the global circulation has been weakly shifted toward El-Nino. Much of that contribution has come from the west Pacific Ocean basin where precipitation has been significantly above average. For instance, some locations in Taiwan received more than 100 inches of rainfall from Typhoon Morakot during the period of roughly August 6-8. The result has been an anomalous circulation pattern across the lower 48 states, which impacted southwest Kansas with generally cool and wet weather conditions during July (11th coolest since 1895 for the entire state). Since June 1, Dodge City has received 10.69 inches of rainfall, 3.29 above normal. However, some locations across Stafford, Pratt and Barber counties have missed out. Medicine Lodge has only received 6.60 inches of rainfall this summer, 1.60 below normal. Except for near the Oklahoma border and the above mentioned counties, short-term drought conditions are minimal.
The U.S. Drought Monitor is a weekly collaborative effort between a number of federal agencies including NOAA/NWS, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Drought Mitigation Center.
Drought Outlook Through September:The official forecast suggests slightly increased chances for above normal precipitation through October. The spatial pattern of amounts will be quite variable due to thunderstorms.
Climatological Summary:During June and particularly July, the jet stream pattern across North America was much stronger and shifted well south of climatology. This resulted in a change from episodes of hot weather during June to cooler conditions for July. Much of southwest Kansas had above normal rainfall including episodes of severe storms during both June and July.
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