This entire six-county portion of North Central Kansas started out July in category D2 severe drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, but by month's end most of the area had degraded to category D3 extreme drought for the first time since at least early-2004, with the exception of Jewell County which remained at D2. As of July 31st, all six counties were either a primary or contiguous county in a federally-declared drought disaster area. This onset of severe drought represented a notable degradation in conditions since early May when the entire area was free of all drought categories. Looking back a few months prior to the onset of drought, a fairly wet April helped mitigate the impact of a rather dry March. As a result, the period from May into early June would prove critical as to whether drought would develop. Unfortunately, the combined months of May and June subsequently yielded no more than 15-35% of normal precipitation across most of the area. The situation continued to worsen in July, with most of the area measuring no more than 1-2 inches of rain, versus the 30-year normal of around 4 inches. A few of the lowest cooperative observer rainfall totals during July included 0.27 at Hunter, 0.91 at Burr Oak and 0.92 at Covert. Despite the overall dryness, there were localized exceptions of heavier monthly rainfall, including Jewell which stood out with 5.16. However, the lack of rainfall was not the only factor contributing to the worsening drought. Average daily 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. Near Alton, the average June-July daily high temperature was 98.7 degrees, or 9.6 degrees hotter than normal. Between July 13th-26th, Alton reached at least 100 degrees 14 days in row, the longest such streak since 1980. For the week ending July 29th, the Kansas Weather and Crops Report from the USDA indicated that topsoil moisture across the north central district was 85 percent short to very short and subsoil moisture 89 percent short to very short. Across the state as a whole, range and pasture conditions were reported to be 88 percent poor to very poor, the worst since ratings began in 1995. The Kansas corn and soybean crop was rated as 66 percent and 59 percent poor to very poor, respectively. The Kansas report also indicated that many livestock producers were selling calves earlier than preferred and were culling herds as pasture conditions worsened.

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

Smith County started out the month designated in the severe drought category (D2), but ended the month designated as extreme (D3).

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

Rooks County started out the month designated in the severe drought category (D2), but ended the month designated as extreme (D3).

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

Phillips County started out the month designated in the severe drought category (D2), but ended the month designated as extreme (D3).

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

Osborne County started out the month designated in the severe drought category (D2), but ended the month designated as extreme (D3).

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

Mitchell County started out the month designated in the severe drought category (D2), but ended the month designated as extreme (D3).

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

Jewell County spent the month designated in the severe drought category (D2).