September saw a split pattern in precipitation, with the heaviest rains in the western third of the state. All three western divisions saw greater than 100 percent of normal, as did the South Central Division. None of the eastern divisions saw even half of their normal rainfall. This wasn’t as much of a challenge in the East Central Division, which saw the only heavy precipitation in August. Statewide average precipitation was 2.09 inches or 94 percent of normal. Despite the overall low precipitation in the eastern third of the state, the greatest monthly total at a National Weather Service Coop (NWS) station was 6.79 inches at Mound Valley 3WSW, Labette County. The greatest monthly total at a Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network station was 6.98 inches at Medicine Lodge 0.4 WSW, Barber County. The greatest daily totals for each network: 5.91 inches at Mound Valley 3WSW, Labette County, on the 19th (NWS); 6.40 inches at Preston 1.2 SE, Pratt County, on the 26th (CoCoRaHS).
Temperatures averaged warmer-than-normal across all divisions. With all the rain, it isn’t surprising that the western divisions came closest to normal for the month. The Southwest Division averaged 68.9 degrees F, or just 0.3 degrees warmer-than-normal. In contrast, the Northeastern Division averaged 70.5 degrees F or 3.2 degrees warmer-than-normal. The warmest reading for the month was 102 degrees F recorded at multiple locations and dates. The latest of those at Alton 6ESE on the 22nd. The coldest reading was 30 degrees F reported at Brewster 4W, Thomas County on the 6th. Most of the departure from normal came on the low temperature side. There were 67 new daily records for warm minimum temperatures, and only 51 new daily records for high maximum temperatures. Despite the warmth, there were 26 new record cold minimum temperatures and 6 new record low maximum temperatures. None of these set new records for the month.
Severe weather was extremely limited this month. The Storm Prediction Center’s data base only notes two hail events in September and no records of wind damage or tornadoes. The most damaging event of the month was the flooding in south central Kansas following the heavy rains from September 25-26th.
The variable precipitation coupled with warmer-than-normal temperatures resulted in expansion of the abnormally dry condition. Areas of the state with much lower-than-normal precipitation had an expansion of moderate drought.
The October outlook calls for wetter-than-normal conditions from southwest to north central Kansas, with equal chances of above- or below-normal precipitation across the rest of the state. This is coupled with increased chances of above-normal temperatures in the eastern half of the state, with equal chances of above- or below-normal temperatures across the rest of the state. The much cooler-than-normal temperatures that have started the month will reduce some of the evaporative demand and the rainy start will alleviate some of the drought.
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Sep-17 |
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Kansas Climate Division Summary |
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Precipitation (inches) |
Temperature (oF) |
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Sep-17 |
2017 through September |
Monthly Extremes |
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Division |
Total |
Dep. 1 |
% Normal |
Total |
Dep. 1 |
% Normal |
Ave |
Dep. 1 |
Max |
Min |
|
Northwest |
1.71 |
0.19 |
110 |
18.41 |
0.00 |
100 |
66.1 |
0.9 |
102 |
36 |
|
West Central |
2.62 |
1.02 |
167 |
21.25 |
3.36 |
119 |
67.4 |
1.1 |
100 |
36 |
|
Southwest |
2.45 |
0.83 |
154 |
23.11 |
6.05 |
136 |
68.9 |
0.3 |
101 |
42 |
|
North Central |
2.37 |
-0.26 |
91 |
23.45 |
-0.49 |
97 |
70.9 |
3.1 |
102 |
41 |
|
Central |
1.69 |
-0.82 |
70 |
22.85 |
-2.14 |
92 |
72.2 |
3.1 |
101 |
40 |
|
South Central |
2.80 |
0.20 |
110 |
28.34 |
2.27 |
109 |
71.6 |
1.4 |
99 |
43 |
|
Northeast |
1.44 |
-2.17 |
41 |
26.02 |
-3.25 |
88 |
70.5 |
3.2 |
94 |
42 |
|
East Central |
1.74 |
-1.92 |
45 |
29.31 |
-1.95 |
92 |
70.9 |
2.7 |
96 |
42 |
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Southeast |
1.54 |
-2.47 |
37 |
35.84 |
2.42 |
106 |
71.6 |
2.0 |
98 |
43 |
|
STATE |
2.09 |
-0.53 |
94 |
25.69 |
1.07 |
105 |
70.0 |
2.0 |
102 |
36 |
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1. Departure from 1981-2010 normal value |
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2. State Highest temperature: 102 degrees F at multiple locations/dates; latest at Alton 6ESE on the 22nd. |
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3. State Lowest temperature: 30 degrees F at Brewster 4W, Thomas County, on the 6th. |
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4. Greatest 24hr: 5.91 inches at Mound Valley 3WSW, Labette County, on the 19th (NWS); 6.40 inches at Preston 1.2 SE, Pratt County, on the 26th (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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