While Kansas missed the worst of the first major snow storm of the season on October 4th and 5th, the Northwestern Division had snowfall amounts of up to 6 inches for the month. Even the eastern portions of the state had snowflakes, but accumulations in this area were generally less than an inch.
Despite the snow, the average precipitation in the western third of the state was less than normal for October. This pattern extended into north central and central Kansas, which also averaged below normal for the month. The eastern divisions and south central Kansas averaged above normal precipitation for the month. The Southeastern Division had the greatest rainfall, with an average of 5.31 inches or 145 percent of normal. In contrast, the West Central Division had the least precipitation with an average of 0.96 inches, or 66 percent of normal. State-wide, the average precipitation was 2.36 inches, which was 102 percent of normal.
Statewide, the average temperature was just slightly cooler than average. All divisions reported lows in the low to mid 20s, marking the end of the growing season for spring-planted crops. Winter wheat planting and emergence is close to last year at 94 percent planted and 74 percent emerged. Condition of the wheat crop was reported at 59 percent good to excellent this year, in contrast to last year where only 37 percent of the crop was in good to excellent condition at the end of October.
The continued moisture allowed for normal conditions to remain on the Drought Monitor in the Central Division, with some improvements in the eastern divisions where abnormally dry conditions persist. There has been little change in the western divisions, as rainfall for the year continues to be well below average. Cooler-than-average temperatures have somewhat reduced the negative impact of the below-average rainfall, but severe to extreme drought conditions remain throughout the western region. Both the Seasonal Drought Outlook and the Monthly Drought Outlook suggest continued improvement on the eastern edges of the drought region. The Seasonal Drought Outlook and the monthly outlook for November call for continuing drought in the western third of the state. Given the fact that we are moving into the drier part of the year, even normal precipitation will have minimal impact on the long term deficits in the region. The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is expected to remain neutral through the winter. For November, the temperature outlook is neutral.
Figure 1. Rainfall amount in October 2013 in inches. Source: Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library.
Figure 2. Rainfall in October 2013 as a percentage of normal. Source: Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library.
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October 2013 |
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Kansas Climate Division Summary |
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Precipitation (inches) |
Temperature (oF) |
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Oct ober2013 |
Jan. through Oct. 2013 |
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Monthly Extremes |
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Division |
Total |
Dep. 1 |
% Normal |
Total |
Dep. 1 |
% Normal |
Ave |
Dep. 1 |
Max |
Min |
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Northwest |
1.11 |
-0.45 |
71 |
14.17 |
-5.79 |
71 |
70.3 |
5.0 |
107 |
34 |
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West Central |
0.96 |
-0.50 |
66 |
15.62 |
-3.73 |
81 |
70.9 |
4.5 |
106 |
39 |
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Southwest |
1.14 |
-0.38 |
75 |
14.25 |
-4.33 |
77 |
72.6 |
4.0 |
103 |
40 |
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North Central |
1.41 |
-0.57 |
71 |
22.03 |
-3.87 |
85 |
72.2 |
4.2 |
106 |
43 |
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Central |
1.48 |
-0.65 |
69 |
29.43 |
2.30 |
108 |
73.2 |
4.2 |
106 |
40 |
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South Central |
2.74 |
0.10 |
103 |
34.19 |
5.48 |
119 |
73.5 |
3.3 |
102 |
40 |
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Northeast |
3.40 |
0.67 |
125 |
27.60 |
-4.40 |
86 |
71.4 |
4.0 |
104 |
40 |
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East Central |
3.50 |
0.41 |
113 |
28.30 |
-6.05 |
82 |
71.8 |
3.5 |
104 |
41 |
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Southeast |
5.31 |
1.64 |
145 |
42.41 |
5.32 |
114 |
72.4 |
2.8 |
100 |
42 |
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STATE |
2.36 |
0.04 |
102 |
25.66 |
-1.27 |
95 |
72.0 |
3.9 |
107 |
34 |
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1. Departure from 1981-2010 normal value |
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2. Highest temperature of 93 oF at Larned No.2 (Pawnee County) on the 4th. |
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3. Lowest temperature of 23 oF at multiple locations, latest at Holton (Jackson County) on the 27th. |
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4. Greatest rainfall: 8.55 inches at Humboldt 4.6 ESE, Allen County (CoCoRaHS); 9.31 Inches at Uniontown, Bourbon County (NWS). |
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Source: KSU Weather Data Library |
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-- Mary Knapp, Agronomy, Weather Data Library
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