Tropical Moisture Soaks
the East while Dryness Returns to the Southwest
Moisture
associated with tropical storms interacted with several
embedded disturbances along a stationary front to soak parts
of south central and eastern Kansas at mid-month. At the
Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, a record 24-hour
precipitation total of 10.31 inches was set on September 12th.
The month’s total of 12.96 inches was the most ever for
September and the fourth-wettest month ever for Wichita.
Following a wetter than normal August, a dry pattern
persisted during September in west central and southwest
Kansas, where monthly rainfall totals were as little as 0.04
inches. Average temperatures across Kansas during September
were below normal statewide. Light frost occurred in the
far northwest on the 15th as Atwood dipped to 32°F.
The latest
Kansas Climate Summary and Drought Report -
September 2008 provides additional details. This Report
is updated
monthly (first Friday or thereabouts) throughout the year. Archived
reports from
2006 and 2007 are also available:
8/2008,
7/2008, 6/2008,
5/2008,
4/2008, 3/2008, 2/8/2008,
1/8/2008,
12/7/2008,
11/7/2007,
10/7/2007,
9/5/2007, 8/7/2007,
7/6/2007,
6/6/2007
, 5/5/2007,
4/4/2007,
3/6/2007,
2/2/2007,
11/14/06, 10/10/06, 8/16/2006,
6/14/2006, 5/1/2006, 3/10/06, 1/25/06.
Drought Preparedness and Response
The Kansas
Water Office has the statutory responsibility to monitor
conditions and inform the Governor when drought conditions are
present in the state. The Director of the Kansas Water Office
serves as Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team, an
interagency group charged with coordinating drought response
activities in Kansas. An
Operations Plan details Team membership and response
activities keyed to each of three county drought stages: Drought
Watch, Drought Warning and Drought Emergency.
The following publications provide
additional information regarding drought preparedness and
response in Kansas.
Drought
Related Links - Additional information regarding current drought
conditions, forecasts, available assistance, drought planning,
and more is available through these links.
