According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, January marked the eighth consecutive month of severe (or worse) drought across this six-county portion of North Central Kansas, as one of the worst droughts since the 1950s, which took hold during the summer of 2012, continued into the new year. Despite the second consecutive month of at least slightly above normal precipitation in most spots, all six counties remained under a federally-designated drought disaster. According to weekly issuances of the U.S. Drought Monitor there was essentially no change whatsoever in drought classification during the month. Category D4 exceptional drought (the worst-possible classification) remained firmly in place across Phillips and Rooks counties along with the majority of Smith and Osborne counties. Farther east, a mix of category D2 severe and category D3 extreme drought persisted in Jewell and Mitchell Counties. Based on reports from around 20 NWS cooperative observers, and also incorporating radar-derived estimation, most of the area realized above normal precipitation in January (per normals generally between 0.40-0.70). Some of this above normal precipitation was tied to a widespread 2-5 snowfall from the 29th-30th. Per NWS cooperative observers, a few of the highest January precipitation totals featured 1.36 near Covert in rural Osborne County, 1.19 at Mankato and 1.06 near Alton. On the lower side of monthly totals, although still near normal to slightly above normal, were sites such as Logan (0.38), near Long Island (0.48) and Phillipsburg (0.50).
Despite the encouraging recent development of above normal precipitation during December and January, this trend did little to ease serious drought conditions. This is largely due to the fact that winter precipitation events generally account for less than 10 percent of total annual precipitation, thus minimizing the effect of even major snow storms on drought relief. The USDA Kansas Crop Progress and Condition report for January indicated little change since December, with the state-averaged winter wheat crop averaging 35 to 40 percent poor to very poor, and only around 20% good to excellent. State-averaged range and pasture conditions remained over 80% poor to very poor, and hay and forage and stock water supplies continued to check in between 70-80% short to very short.

Drought in JEWELL, KANSAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in MITCHELL, KANSAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in OSBORNE, KANSAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in PHILLIPS, KANSAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in ROOKS, KANSAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought in SMITH, KANSAS
From 01-JAN-13 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-13 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor