Dry and Cool in Most Areas
May 2009 was the 22nd
driest May of record with a statewide average precipitation of
2.59 inches. Despite this general dry pattern, many locations in
the northwest and the southeast saw above normal rainfall for
the month.
Abnormally dry conditions were
indicated at month’s end by the U.S. Drought Monitor in much of
north central Kansas as well as a narrow strip along the
Oklahoma border. This was little changed from the situation one
month ago. The NOAA Seasonal Drought Outlook does not foresee
the development of widespread drought across Kansas this summer.
May temperatures were generally near normal across Kansas. The
coolest conditions relative to normal were in the south central,
while many locations in the far west and northwest were somewhat
warmer than normal. The statewide average temperature for the
month was 62.70F, some 0.6 degrees below normal.
Temperature extremes in Kansas during May ranged from 300F
at Goodland 19SW on the 14th to 960F at
Medicine Lodge on the 30th and Newton 2SW on the 31st.
The latest
Kansas Climate Summary and Drought Report - May
2009 provides additional details. This Report
is updated
monthly (first Friday or thereabouts) throughout the year. Archived
reports from
2006 and 2007 are also available:
4/2009, 3/2009, 2/2009,
1/2009, 12/2008, 11/2008, 10/2008, 9/2008,
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.
