The Ag-Climate Update is a joint effort between our climate and extension specialists. Every month the update includes a brief summary of that month, agronomic impacts, relevant maps and graphs, 1-month temperature and precipitation outlooks, monthly extremes, and notable highlights.
October 2020: Wide temperature swings with little precipitation
October was much drier than normal. It ranked as the 11th driest October since 1895. All divisions averaged below normal for the month, resulting in an expansion of drought across the state. Almost all of the precipitation came at the last week of the month, with the result that all of the state had abnormal dry conditions or worse (Figure 1).
Temperatures were uniformly cooler than normal across the state. The statewide average for October was 3.5 degrees cooler than normal. The thermal heat unit deficit was largely driven by cold maximum temperatures. Statewide there were 214 new daily record low maximums and 69 new record low minimums
Figure 1. Poor wheat stands due to dry soils and uneven residue. Photo by Romulo Lollato, K-State Research and Extension.
View the entire October Ag-Climate Summary, including the accompanying maps and graphics (not shown in this summary), at http://climate.k-state.edu/ag/updates/.