During August 2012, rainfall was highly variable across this six-county area, with some places realizing below normal amounts of no more than 2 inches, while others managed to measure near normal to even above normal totals of at least 3-4. Some of the lowest monthly amounts per NWS cooperative observers including 0.56 near Long Island, 1.11 at Logan and 1.76 near Alton. On the wetter side of things were locations such as Webster Dam (4.59), near Plainville (3.93) and Beloit (3.59). However, over the longer-range period from June 1st-August 15th rainfall totals across most of the area only averaged between 45-70 percent of normal. Temperature-wise, after a notably hot June and especially July, readings in August eased up a bit with the mean monthly temperature across most of the area averaging 1-3 degrees below normal for a change. Despite these somewhat encouraging trends, the overall drought impact continued to retain or even worsen its grip during the month. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of the area started out August in category D3 extreme drought. By month's end, this extreme drought had overtaken even more of the area, with category D4 exceptional drought creeping into southern portions of Rooks and Osborne Counties. Only portions of eastern Jewell and northeast Mitchell Counties still held onto category D2 severe drought at the end of the month. This onset of severe to exceptional drought represented a notable degradation in conditions since early May when the entire area was free of all drought categories. Looking back, the drought situation that took initially took hold in May and June continued to worsen in July when most of the area measured no more than 1-2 inches of rain, versus the 30-year normal of around 4 inches. Furthermore, average maximum temperatures for the combined months of June and July ended up a significant 6-10 degrees above normal, essentially baking moisture-starved maturing crops. As of August 8th, the USDA had designated all six counties as primary counties in a federal drought disaster area. For the week ending August 12th, the Kansas Weather and Crops Report from the USDA indicated that topsoil moisture across the north central district was 81 percent short to very short and subsoil moisture 91 percent short to very short. Across the state as a whole, range and pasture conditions were reported to be 90 percent poor to very poor, the worst since ratings began in 1995. However, grazing and haying of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres was being taken advantage of to supplement depleted pastures. The Kansas corn and soybean crop was rated as 70 percent poor to very poor, marking the worst conditions since the current data series began in 1985.

Drought in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in ROOKS, KANSAS
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in SMITH, KANSAS
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor