Kansas Weekly Drought Update and Climate Report for June 26 – July 2, 2024
By MATTHEW SITTEL
Assistant State Climatologist, Kansas State University
Temperatures averaged slightly above normal for the week, but there were some very hot temperatures during the period. Highs across the Kansas Mesonet averaged in the 90s on five of the seven days. Highs were above 100 degrees in a few locations on June 28th and again on the first two days of July. The hottest reading for the week was 106° on the 28th, recorded at the Wilson Lake cooperative site in eastern Russell County. There was a brief cooldown on the 30th when the average high was only 78°, nearly 12 degrees below normal for the date. Daily morning lows averaged from 63 to 70 degrees each morning.
The 7-day average temperature across Kansas was 78.7°, or 1.3° above normal. Seven of Kansas’ nine climate divisions were above normal; only northeast was below normal (-1.0°), while east central was exactly normal. West central was the most above normal division (+2.7°), closely followed by southwest (+2.6°) and south central (+2.5°) Kansas. There was an average of 182 growing degree days across the state (based on Kansas Mesonet data) which is 8 above normal. Divisional totals ranged from 169 in northwest to 193 in southeast Kansas, while departures ranged from -1 in northeast to +18 in west central Kansas. For the growing season to date, which began on April 1st, there has been an average of 1604 growing degree days in Kansas, or 139 above normal. Departures for the growing season range from +131 in northwest and north central Kansas to +179 in west central Kansas. There was an average of 39 corn stress degree days during the period across the state. The average since April 1 is 180. Southwest Kansas has the highest average at 249, while northeast Kansas’ average is lowest at 86.
There were multiple heavy rain events during the period, but for the most part, the coverage of these events was limited. At least one CoCoRaHS observer reported two inches or more of rain on six out of the seven days of the period; all reports on the 27th were just six-tenths of an inch or less. On the 26th, heavy rain reports were confined to areas along the Missouri border. The highest totals were in Doniphan County where all six CoCoRaHS reports received were over two inches, with a 3.25” amount near Bendena the highest. Barber County picked up from 2 to 3 inches on the 28th. The highest total was 3.35” west-southwest of Medicine Lodge. An intense thunderstorm on the evening of the 28th dropped as much as six inches of rain in Geary County, leading to street flooding in Junction City. Hail as large as golf balls accompanied the torrential rain. Parts of southwest Kansas were inundated on the 30th. The 4.39” which fell at Dodge City was the fifth-highest single-day total in 150 years of records at that site. This boosted the monthly total at Dodge City to 12.02”, setting a new mark for the wettest June on record. An observer in southeastern Ford County picked up 6.25” of rain from the same system. In addition, there were reports of over 4 inches of rain from CoCoRaHS observers in Clark, Kiowa, Comanche, Pratt, and Cowley Counties. On the 1st, heavy rain fell along a line from Manhattan to Olathe. Johnson County had the highest totals, with eleven CoCoRaHS reports of at least four inches of rain, with four of those reports exceeding five inches. Lower totals fell further west; reports were generally from two to three inches in the Lawrence and Topeka areas. Seven-day totals of at least five inches of rain were reported in fourteen different counties in the state, with the highest amount 7.35” in Grandview Plaza in Geary County. Severe weather accompanied the heavy rain in some areas. There were two tornadoes during the period on June 28th in Lyon and Osage Counties. There were no reports of damage from either tornado. There were 77 reports of severe wind gusts 58 mph or higher. Of these, 12 reports were of winds at or above hurricane force (74 mph). The peak gusts were 86 mph in Shawnee County on the 26th and in Thomas County on the 1st. There were eleven reports of severe hail 1” or greater in diameter during the period. The largest report was 2.75” in Cowley County northeast of Winfield on the 29th.
The statewide average precipitation for the 7-day period was 1.56”, or 170% of the weekly normal amount of 0.92”. The highest divisional total was 2.64” in northeast Kansas, narrowly beating out east central Kansas at 2.63”. Only two divisions were below normal; central Kansas was the driest division (0.33”) followed by north central (0.64”) Kansas. Since April 1st, the average precipitation across Kansas is 11.35”, or 95% of the normal amount of 11.95”. The three eastern divisions remain above normal, and southwest Kansas is now above normal (103%). Northeast Kansas remains the most above normal division (+3.54”), while central Kansas is still the most below normal (-3.06”). Since January 1st, the average statewide precipitation is 14.62”. This amount is 93% of normal, or a departure of –1.08”. The three eastern divisions are the only three divisions above normal for the year. Central Kansas has the lowest percent of normal (76%). Departures for the year to date range from -3.65” in central Kansas to +3.04” in northeast Kansas.
The average evapotranspiration for grass across the state (based on Kansas Mesonet data) for the week was 1.57”. This is close to the 10-year normal (2014 to 2023) of 1.59” for the 7-day period. Divisional averages ranged from 1.30” in northeast to 1.81” in west central Kansas. The statewide average 2” soil temperature across the Kansas Mesonet for the period was 79.7°, or 1.5° above normal.
In this week’s US Drought Monitor update, one-category improvements were made to parts of 30 counties in southern Kansas, as well as to six counties near and to the south of Kansas City. There were a few small areas with 1-category degradation in northwest, north central, and southeast Kansas. The statewide Drought Severity and Coverage Index (DSCI) fell 15 points to 80. This is the lowest DSCI since December 14, 2021. A total of 45% of the state is now drought-free, up from 39% last week. The percentage of Kansas in D2 or worse drought status is down to only 4 percent. The last time there were no areas of D2 or worse drought in Kansas was nearly three years ago on July 27, 2021.
The Weather Prediction Center’s 7-day precipitation forecast, valid for the period July 3rd through the 9th, calls for near or above normal precipitation for the eastern two-thirds of Kansas, with below normal precipitation favored in the western third of the state. A few areas in central and southeast Kansas may pick up over two inches of rain, but totals from 1.5 to 2 inches are more likely. Temperatures during the period are expected to average slightly below normal. The average daily high and low across Kansas for this period are 91° and 66°. Average 7-day precipitation is 0.70” in western Kansas, 0.88” in central Kansas, and 1.03” in eastern Kansas. The 8 to 14-day outlook, valid for the period July 10th through the 16th, favors above normal temperatures statewide, with the highest probabilities in northwestern Kansas. Below normal precipitation is favored in northwest and north central Kansas, with a small area of elevated chances of above normal precipitation along the Oklahoma border. Looking even further ahead, the outlook for the 14-day period from July 13th to July 26th suggests above normal temperatures are likely. Below normal precipitation in most of the state.