Statewide average rainfall for September was well above normal. The statewide average was 4.15 inches, or 148 percent of normal. However, the distribution was skewed to the Northeast and South Central Divisions. The Southwest Division missed out on most of the rainfall. The Southwest Divisional average was just 0.62 inches, or 37 percent of normal. The West Central Division was also below normal, although less dramatically. The average for the West Central Division was 1.57 inches, or 97 percent of normal. In contrast, the South Central Division averaged 5.87 inches, or 206 percent of normal. However, this excess moisture was concentrated heavily in the southern Sedgwick County area, where the Haysville and Clearwater areas had the heaviest totals for the month. This September ranks as the 20th wettest in the 122 years of record. The wettest September on record occurred in 1973, when the statewide average total was 8.32 inches. With the overall wet pattern, it is no surprise that there were 138 new record daily rainfall totals. Of those, 11 reports set new monthly records and seven set new all-time records as well. The greatest 24-hour total was at CoCoRaHS station: 9.32 inches at Clearwater 3.9 NNE, Sedgwick County, on the 9th. Highest monthly totals: 15.56 inches at Haysville 3SE, Sedgwick County (NWS) and 16.27 inches at Clearwater 7.0 N, Sedgwick County (CoCoRaHS).
Temperatures were warmer-than-normal across the state in September. The statewide average temperature was 70.7 degrees F, or 3.0 degrees warmer than normal. This was the 32nd warmest since 1896, which places it on the warm side of the distribution range. The Northwest Division was closest to normal for the month. Its average was 67.1 degrees F, or 2.3 degrees warmer than normal. The warmest division was the Northeast Division where average temperature was 71.5 degrees F, or 4.5 degrees warmer than normal. There were 2 events that tied the daily record high temperature, when Girard and Pomona Lake reached 90 degrees F on the 20th, breaking their previous records of 89 degrees F set in 1998 and 1986 respectively. In contrast, there were no new record low maximum temperatures or minimum temperatures set. There were 27 new record warm minimum temperatures set. Of those, one set a monthly record. That was the 72 degrees F reported for the low temperature at the Garden City Experiment Station on September 6th. The previous record was 71 degrees F set on September 1, 1964. The highest temperature recorded was 100 degrees F reported at Hudson, Stafford County, on the 19th. The coldest temperature recorded for the month was reported as 31 degrees F at Brewster 4W, Thomas County, on the 27th.
Severe weather was also a factor, although not to the degree that was seen in August. There were a total of 38 hail reports and 29 damaging wind reports in the month. There were 81 flood/flash flood reports, including several swift water rescues.
Above-normal precipitation coupled with near-normal temperatures allowed for removal of the abnormally dry conditions across the state. On the other hand, the continued below-normal rainfall in the western divisions coupled with warmer than normal temperatures increase the likelihood that abnormally dry conditions will return, particularly in the Southwestern Division.
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Sep 2016 |
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Kansas Climate Division Summary |
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Precipitation (inches) |
Temperature (oF) |
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Sep 2016 |
2016 Jan. through Sept. |
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Monthly Extremes |
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Division |
Total |
Dep. 1 |
% Normal |
Total |
Dep. 1 |
% Normal |
Ave |
Dep. 1 |
Max |
Min |
|
Northwest |
3.25 |
1.74 |
205 |
19.15 |
0.69 |
103 |
67.1 |
2.3 |
97 |
31 |
|
West Central |
1.54 |
-0.05 |
97 |
18.48 |
0.54 |
102 |
69.0 |
3.0 |
99 |
35 |
|
Southwest |
0.62 |
-0.99 |
37 |
19.79 |
2.68 |
115 |
71.5 |
3.3 |
99 |
37 |
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North Central |
3.79 |
1.18 |
167 |
28.73 |
4.73 |
120 |
70.0 |
2.5 |
96 |
38 |
|
Central |
2.94 |
0.44 |
113 |
28.73 |
3.65 |
114 |
71.2 |
2.6 |
98 |
38 |
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South Central |
5.87 |
3.27 |
209 |
32.69 |
6.53 |
123 |
72.3 |
2.5 |
100 |
38 |
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Northeast |
6.52 |
2.92 |
182 |
32.39 |
3.01 |
109 |
71.5 |
4.5 |
95 |
44 |
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East Central |
6.23 |
2.58 |
168 |
33.01 |
1.63 |
104 |
71.3 |
3.4 |
93 |
44 |
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Southeast |
7.18 |
3.17 |
185 |
37.20 |
3.65 |
111 |
72.0 |
2.7 |
95 |
43 |
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STATE |
4.15 |
1.54 |
148 |
27.88 |
3.18 |
111 |
70.7 |
3.0 |
99 |
31 |
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1. Departure from 1981-2010 normal value |
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2. State Highest temperature: 100 oF at Hudson, Stafford County, on the 19th. |
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3. State Lowest temperature: 31 oF at Brewster 4W, Thomas County, on the 27th. |
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4. Greatest 24hr rainfall: 8.31 inches at Hiawatha 9SE, Brown County, on the 14th (NWS); 9.32 inches at Clearwater 3.9 NNE, Sedgwick County, on the 9th (CoCoRaHS). |
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Source: KSU Weather Data Library |
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Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu
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