Much like other sources over the past few weeks, the National Weather Service Wichita forecast office’s monthly climate packet indicates deepening drought for the area and most of the state.
The August packet demonstrates below-average precipitation for the eastern half of Kansas coupled with mostly above-average temperatures statewide.
Cottonwood Falls had less than two inches of moisture in August, 2.6 inches below average for the month. The quarterly report of 7.18 inches was almost seven inches below normal, the city’s driest summer period since 2012. The year-to-date total of 17.34 inches is nearly 11 inches below average and is the city’s driest total since 2012.
Crop, pasture and range conditions are still mostly fair to good, but pasture and range conditions are now over 40 percent poor to very poor. Corn and beans are at least 30 percent poor or very poor across the Wichita office’s coverage area, which includes Chase and Greenwood counties. Topsoil and subsoil moisture are both nearing 70 percent short to very short.
Streamflow, another component of the Wichita report, is normal for much of the KVOE listening area — but it’s much below normal for the Cottonwood River basin from Emporia west into Marion County.
The monthly report says drought is likely to persist at least through November. It also says El Nino should be moderate to strong through at least winter, generally meaning near-to-below average temperatures and near-to-above precipitation in the fall followed by a switch to possibly above-normal temperatures and near-average precipitation in the winter. El Nino, the above-average warming of the Central Pacific Ocean’s surface waters, may well extend at least into spring 2024.
The NWS climate report comes as almost all the KVOE listening area is in severe or extreme drought, according to the US Drought Monitor. It also comes as Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has declared a drought emergency for Lyon, Chase, Coffey Greenwood and Morris counties, allowing those counties to draw water from certain state and federal reservoirs if needed. Osage and Wabaunsee counties are in a drought warning.
