KANSAS CLIMATE SUMMARY August 2015 Cool and Dry August was drier than normal in most of the state. State-wide average precipitation was 2.80 inches or 85 percent of normal. The Northeast division of the state saw the lowest percent of normal precipitation at 46 percent or an average of 1.80 inches. The Northwest wasn t far ahead with 56 percent of normal or an average of 1.55 inches. The two divisions with above normal precipitation were the Southwest and Southeast divisions. The Southwest division saw 101 percent of normal, or an average of 2.73 inches, while the North Central Division had 130 percent of normal or an average of 4.74 inches. The state-wide average was 2.80 inches or 83 percent of normal. This ranks as the 55 th driest August on record, placing it in the middle third of the 121 year distribution. The greatest monthly precipitation reports were 8.42 inches at Iola 1W, Allen County (NWS) and 8.78 inches at Wichita 3.2 NW, Sedgwick County, (CoCoRaHS). While 73 new daily precipitation records were set, none of these were new records for August. Temperatures were cooler than normal across the state. The state-wide average temperature was 75.0 of, 2.1 degree cooler than normal for the month. There were no new record high temperatures set during the month. In contrast, there were 9 new record cold high temperatures, and 3 records that tied. On the low temperature side, the same trend prevailed with 15 new record low minimum temperatures and 11 records tied. There were 3 new record daily warm minimum temperatures for the month, but no new monthly record lows set. The western divisions were the closest to normal, averaging between 0.7 and 0.9 degrees cooler than normal. The Southeast and the South Central divisions were the coldest, with both averaging 3.5 degrees cooler than normal. The warmest reading was 108 of and was recorded on the 9 th at Hays, Ellis County (NWS). The coolest reading for the state was 42 of at Oberlin, Decatur County(NWS) on the 25 th. While the temperatures weren t particularly outside of the normal range, late-planted spring crops such as corn and soybeans are still behind in development, with rising concerns that an early frost will have a negative impact on yields. Severe weather was more limited in August, as storm systems were less common. Preliminary data indicates there were 2 tornadoes reported, compared to 7 in July, 15 during June and 99 in May. Hail reports were also fewer with 45 reports this month versus 55 reports in July, 83 in June and 108 in May. Damaging winds were also less common. There were 65 reports in August, 114 reports in July, 65 reports in June and only 52 reports last May.
Drought conditions deteriorated slightly, which was not unexpected, given the lower than average precipitation. Greater expansion was limited due to the wetter than normal conditions in June and the cooler than normal temperatures this month. Only abnormally dry conditions remain on the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map. This area is in portions of the Northwest, North Central and Central divisions, where rainfall for growing season is less than normal. Thirty seven counties in western Kansas remain in drought watch status according to the latest advisory from the Kansas Water Office. A return to normal or above normal precipitation is needed to sustain improvements. Some long-term hydrological deficits are in place affecting some water supplies and reservoirs.
Appendix. Precipitation and Temperature Maps
Table 1. Table 1 Aug-15 Kansas Climate Division Summary Precipitation (inches) Temperature ( o F) Aug-15 2015 through August Monthly Extremes % % Dep. Division Total Dep. 1 Normal Total Dep. 1 1 Normal Ave Max Min Northwest 1.55-1.18 56 15.46-1.43 91 74.1-0.7 105 42 West Central 1.69-0.92 64 16.31 0.02 100 74.8-0.8 103 44 Southwest 2.73 0.02 101 21.15 5.71 136 76.3-0.9 106 49 North Central 2.92-0.36 89 20.47-0.82 94 74.6-2.5 101 43 Central 3.23-0.34 87 20.75-1.73 91 75.5-2.6 108 45 South Central 2.54-0.90 73 25.51 2.04 108 75.7-3.5 101 50 Northeast 1.80-2.10 46 28.13 2.47 109 74.2-2.1 95 45 East Central 3.20-0.89 78 26.87-0.74 96 74.5-2.6 96 47 Southeast 4.74 1.00 130 28.89-0.52 98 75.0-3.5 98 50 STATE 2.80-0.52 83 22.73 0.73 103 75.0-2.1 108 42 1. Departure from 1981-2010 normal value 2. State Highest temperature: 108 of at Hays 1S (Ellis County) on the 9th. 3. State Lowest temperature: 42 of at Oberlin 1E (Decatur County) on the 25th. 4. Greatest 24hr rainfall: 3.96 at Independence, Montgomery County, on the 19th (NWS); 6.15 at Barnard 6.1 NW, Mitchell County, on the 5 th (CoCoRaHS). Source: KSU Weather Data Library
August Summary Precipitation (inches) Temperature of Extreme (Date) Station 1 Total Departure Percent Normal Mean Departure Highest Lowest West Burlington, CO 0.88-1.53 37% 73.5 1.4 96 (26,22) 47 (24,23) Dodge City 1.75-1.00 64% 75.7-2.4 104 (8) 49 (24) Garden City 1.89-0.56 77% 75.9-0.8 99 (8,7) 52 (30,24) Goodland 0.37-2.33 14% 74.8 1.1 99 (26) 47 (23) Guymon, OK 4.87 1.95 167% 77.0-1.1 102 (6) 53 (30) Hill City 1.04-1.87 36% 76.9 0.3 104 (26) 44 (24) Lamar, CO 4.25 1.97 186% 76.8 1.4 101 (6) 49 (24) McCook, NE 2.48-0.66 79% 74.1 0.3 101 (26) 42 (24) Springfield, CO 1.12-1.72 39% 75.2 1.0 102 (6) 51 (24) Central Concordia 4.20 1.06 134% 73.7-3.4 97 (2) 48 (24) Hebron, NE 1.43-2.30 38% 72.7-2.5 95 (2) 43 (24) Medicine Lodge 1.30-1.82 42% 78.0-2.3 101 (8) 52 (20) Ponca City, OK 2.69-0.56 83% 78.5-2.5 102 (8) 53 (25) Salina 3.99-0.06 99% 76.8-2.8 97 (2) 52 (20) Wichita (ICT) 6.38 2.67 172% 77.0-3.0 97 (8) 54 (25) East Bartlesville, OK 4.05 0.98 132% 75.5-4.7 101 (9) 49 (25) Chanute 6.17 2.48 167% 75.4-3.5 94 (3,2) 52 (25) Fall City, NE 0.41-3.63 10% 72.8-2.6 91 (2) 46 (24) Johnson Co. Exec. Apt 3.91 0.19 105% 74.4-3.2 93 (3,1) 51 (24) Joplin, MO 8.23 4.88 246% 76.1-3.6 100 (9) 54 (25,20) Kansas City (MCI), MO 0.98-2.91 25% 74.5-2.6 91 (7,1) 50 (24) St. Joseph, MO 0.22-3.76 6% 73.0-2.3 91 (7) 46 (24) Topeka (TOP 3.10-1.14 73% 75.2-2.2 93 (9,3) 50 (24) 1. Airport Automated Observation Stations (NWS/FAA) 2. Departure from 1981-2010 normal value T - Trace; M - Missing; --- no normal value from which to calculate departure or percent of normal Source: National Weather Service F-6 Climate Summaries
Compared to the 26-year average at this time for Kansas, this year s Vegetation Condition Report for August 18 August 31 from K-State s Ecology and Agriculture Spatial Analysis Laboratory shows that most of the state has at or above average photosynthetic activity. The North Central and Northeastern divisions have the greatest activity. This is continues to be due to favorable growing conditions and partly due to delayed crop development. This delay means more of the vegetation is in the most active growth period, rather than the reduced activity that comes as the crop matures. An area of abnormally dry conditions continues in the Northwest Division edging into North Central and Central KS. This is reflected in lower than average biomass production in the region.