National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Drought Beginning to Take Hold 

Since the beginning of May, northeast Kansas has quickly dried out with little precipitation and temperatures in the upper 90s and lower 100s.  Many areas have started to see drought conditions becoming more intense.  If the hot and dry weather persist for a prolonged period of time, the drought will likely become more severe.  But this isn't the worst drought we've had to deal with.  Precipitation amounts for Topeka have been near or above normal for the previous 5 years and the drought conditions are just beginning to set in during the last several months.  Below are the Palmer Drought indices for June of this year and past Junes during extraordinary droughts of the past.

               June 1936                                   June 1956                                  June 2012

** Click on image for a larger version **

With the first two thirds of July already gone by with below normal precipitation, the drought conditions are likely to be worse for July then there were in June.  However the current drought still has a ways to go to compare with the ones from the 1930s and 1950s.  

Temperature Statistics At Topeka Since 1887

Rank	4/1 - 7/15 Average High	Year		4/1 - 7/15 Average Low	Year		4/1 - 7/15 Average Temp	Year
1	85.3	1934		59.8	2012		72.5	2012
2	85.1	2012		59.5	1934		72.4	1934
3	83.4	1936		59.5	1977		70.5	1936
4	81.4	1933		59.5	1991		70.0	1977
5	81.4	1939		59.2	1896		69.9	1991

Temperature Statistics At Concordia Since 1885

Rank	4/1 - 7/15 Average High	Year		4/1 - 7/15 Average Low	Year		4/1 - 7/15 Average Temp	Year
1	84.5	1934		59.7	1934		72.1	1934
2	83.5	2012		57.7	1991		70.3	2012
3	81.2	2006		57.7	1925		69.0	1991
4	80.9	1988		57.6	1977		68.9	1925
5	80.8	1913		57.5	1955		68.7	1936

NOTE:  2012 Ranks 9th in Average Low Temperature at 57.1 degrees.

2012 Temperature Statistics For Area Cities

City	4/1 - 7/15 Average High		4/1 - 7/15 Average Low		4/1 - 7/15 Average Temp		4/1 - 7/15 Precipitation		4/1 - 7/15 % Of Normal Precip
Topeka	85.3		59.8		72.5		8.11"		56 %
Concordia	83.5		57.1		70.3		10.08"		81%
Manhattan	84.7		57.6		71.1		8.15"		About 59 %
Lawrence	84.8		57.3		71.0		7.33"		About 50 %
Emporia	84.2		58.6		71.7		5.82		About 40 %

 

90 Day (4/17 - 7/16) Precipitation - Percentage of Normal

**Click on the image to see the latest precipitation stats in your area**

This image above shows much of Kansas has received only 25 to 50 percent of normal precipitation from April 17 through July 16.  

Precipitation Statistics At Topeka Since 1887

Rank	4/1 - 7/19 Lowest Precipitation Amounts	Year
1	5.50	1901
2	5.73	1911
3	6.49	1937
4	6.82	1980
5	7.20	1906
6	8.40	2012

 

 

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