Kansas remained unusually hot during the week ending Sept. 15, while heavy rainfall brought some drought relief to eastern parts of the state.
The Kansas Climate Report says the statewide average temperature was 77.7 degrees—7.4 degrees above normal. Every day in September has been warmer than normal, extending the streak to 22 consecutive days.
More than two dozen locations reached 100 degrees during the week. Sedan recorded the state’s highest temperature at 106 degrees.
Kansas averaged 1.14 inches of rain, or 176% of normal. Southeast Kansas received the most rainfall, averaging more than 3 inches. A site near Yates Center reported 7.25 inches.
South-central Kansas received an average of 0.81 inches but remains the state’s driest region for the year, with rainfall 4.55 inches below normal.
Recent rainfall improved drought conditions in portions of 20 eastern Kansas counties. The percentage of the state experiencing moderate drought or worse decreased from 55% to 52%.
Above-normal temperatures are expected to continue across Kansas through late September.
Data for this article was provided by Matthew C. Sittel, Assistant State Climatologist at the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University.