Continuing a trend from recent months, rainfall during October exhibited considerable variability within these six counties. However, given that most of the area finished below normal for the sixth consecutive month, the overall drought situation stayed mostly unchanged as the summer and fall of 2012 continued marking its place in history as one of the worst droughts in several decades. Throughout the month, all six counties continued under a federally-designated drought disaster. According to weekly issuances of the U.S. Drought Monitor, category D4 exceptional drought remained firmly in place across Phillips and Rooks counties, along with the majority of Smith and Osborne counties. Meanwhile, a slight improvement was noted in Jewell and Mitchell counties, as this area ended the month with a mix of category D3 extreme and category D2 severe drought. Taking a closer look at monthly precipitation totals, the majority of Phillips, Rooks, Smith and Osborne counties measured between 0.60-1.25 inches, compared to October normals generally between 1.70-2.00. Put another way, most of these areas only realized between 35-70 percent of normal October rainfall. Some of the lowest monthly totals per NWS cooperative observers included 0.51 at Webster Dam, 0.60 near Long Island and 0.76 at Kirwin Dam. Farther east, most of Jewell and Mitchell counties tallied higher rainfall totals between 1.75-2.25, with a few of the largest amounts including 3.16 near Burr Oak and 2.27 at Beloit. The majority of October rain was associated with thunderstorms on the 13th and 14th.
Over the longer range period from May through mid-October, most of North Central Kansas only realized between 35-60 percent of normal rainfall. As just one example, Smith Center measured only 6.73 during this 5 �� month time span...or 37% of the normal amount of 17.88. For the week ending October 14th, the Kansas Crop Progress and Condition Report from the USDA indicated that topsoil moisture across the north central district was 49 percent short to very short and subsoil moisture 78 percent short to very short. Across the state as a whole, range and pasture conditions were reportedly 80 percent poor to very poor, the worst since ratings began in 1985. Both hay and stock water supplies rated around 70 percent short to very short, a figure that has held fairly steady through the past few months. Poor to very poor crop conditions across the state were assigned to 67 percent of sorghum and 61 percent of soybeans. Ninety percent of the statewide corn harvest was already complete, about three weeks ahead of average.

Drought in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in ROOKS, KANSAS
From 01-OCT-12 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

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