According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, August 2013 marked the 15th consecutive month of D2 Severe (or worse) drought within this six-county portion of North Central Kansas, continuing one of the most notable droughts since the 1950s. Despite predominantly below normal August rainfall across at least two-thirds of the area, weekly issuances of the U.S. Drought Monitor reflected a one-category improvement during the month in most locations. Much of the August rainfall occurred during the cooler first half of the month, while little if any fell during the much-hotter later stages of the month, putting stress on maturing crops. For western counties, the dry just kept getting drier, as Phillips County and vicinity endured its 6th-consecutive month of prevailing below normal precipitation.
Per the U.S Drought Monitor at month's end, a noticeable west-east disparity in drought severity remained in place. In the west, D3 Extreme Drought continued across much of Phillips and far western Rooks counties. Category D2 Severe Drought was noted in much of Rooks and southeastern Phillips counties.  Category D1 Moderate Drought was now assigned to much of Smith and western Osborne counties. On the somewhat better-off side of things, category D0 Abnormally Dry conditions (considered to be one category better than true drought) was depicted across the majority of Jewell and Osborne counties, which generally reflected a one-category improvement since late-July. As had been the case for a while, Mitchell County remained in the overall-best shape of the six counties, and in fact was depicted to be free of all drought or abnormally dry conditions. This marked the first time since June 2012 that any portion of the local area was shown to be drought-free. Reports from around 20 NWS cooperative observers, and also radar-derived estimation, confirmed that at least two-thirds of the area observed below normal August rainfall (with normal defined as roughly 3.15). The majority of Jewell and portions of Smith counties were the primary wetter exceptions with above normal rainfall, including NWS cooperative observer totals of 4.00 at Mankato and 3.60 at Burr Oak. A CoCoRaHS observer three miles east-northeast of Webber measured an even higher total of 6.46, although much of this fell during a single storm on the night of the 1st. Within the drier majority of the area, some of the lowest cooperative observer sites included Hunter (0.40), two miles southwest of Alton (0.80) and Webster Dam (0.96). In between these wettest and driest extremes, most of the area tallied August totals between 1.40-3.00, including stations in or near Beloit, Phillipsburg and Natoma.
Focusing on the longer-range picture of year-to-date precipitation (Jan. 1-Aug. 19), most of the six-county area ranged anywhere from 60-105% of normal, with Phillips County clearly the overall-driest, including only 60% of normal at Phillipsburg. In contrast, Mitchell County remained the overall-wettest, featuring 117% of normal at Beloit. The USDA Kansas Crop Progress and Condition Report for the week ending August 18th indicated that topsoil moisture within the north central district had improved considerably versus four weeks prior, rating only 25% short or very short and 75% adequate or surplus, compared to 74% short or very short in mid-July. Subsoil moisture in the north central counties had also improved quite a bit, now rating only 44% short or very short and 56% adequate or surplus, versus 71% short or very short four weeks prior. The state-averaged corn crop had improved to 41% good or excellent and only 28% poor or very poor. Soybeans across Kansas rated 61% good or excellent and only 10% poor or very poor. State-averaged range and pasture conditions checked in 35% poor or very poor, down from 55% in mid-July. Over the past four weeks, stock water supplies improved from 42% to only 25% short or very short.

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

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

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

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

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