A year long period of prolonged dry weather, came to a rapid end during the last week of July 2013, as tropical moisture streamed north leading to numerous rounds of showers and thunderstorms.  The night after night rainfall rapidly refilled lakes and ponds and restored soil moisture. This ended an unusually dry period from May 2012 through March, 2013, which kept an extreme drought (D3) going for portions of Central Kansas early into the month of July.

Drought in ELLSWORTH, KANSAS
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The severe drought (D2), continued across Central Kansas during the first part of the month of July. This was a yearlong continuation of a drought that started in late May of 2012 and continued through the year into June 2012. Copious amounts of rainfall returned to the area by the end of the month, dropping the drought to Moderate (D1).

Drought in CHASE, KANSAS
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The severe drought (D2), continued across Central Kansas during the first part of the month of July. This was a yearlong continuation of a drought that started in late May of 2012 and continued through the year into June 2012. Copious amounts of rainfall returned to the area by the end of the month, dropping the drought to Moderate (D1).

Drought in BARTON, KANSAS
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The extreme drought (D3), continued across Central Kansas during the first part of the month of July. This was a yearlong continuation of a drought that started in late May of 2012 and continued through the year into June 2012. Copious amounts of rainfall returned to the area by the end of the month, dropping the drought to Moderate levels (D1).

Drought in RUSSELL, KANSAS
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The extreme drought (D2), continued across Central Kansas during the first part of the month of July. This was a yearlong continuation of a drought that started in late May of 2012 and continued through the year into June 2012. Copious amounts of rainfall returned to the area by the end of the month, dropping the drought to Moderate levels (D1).

Drought in MARION, KANSAS
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The severe drought (D2), continued across Central Kansas during the first part of the month of July. This was a yearlong continuation of a drought that started in late May of 2012 and continued through the year into June 2012. Copious amounts of rainfall returned to the area by the end of the month, dropping the drought to Moderate (D1).

Drought in SUMNER, KANSAS
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The severe drought (D2), continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month of July. This was a yearlong continuation of a drought that started in late May of 2012 and continued through the year into June 2012. Copious amounts of rainfall returned to the area by the end of the month, dropping the drought to Moderate (D1).

Drought in COWLEY, KANSAS
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The severe drought (D2), continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month of July. This was a yearlong continuation of a drought that started in late May of 2012 and continued through the year into June 2012. Copious amounts of rainfall returned to the area by the end of the month, dropping the drought to Moderate (D1).

Drought in BUTLER, KANSAS
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The severe drought (D2), continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month of July. This was a yearlong continuation of a drought that started in late May of 2012 and continued through the year into June 2012. Copious amounts of rainfall returned to the area by the end of the month, dropping the drought to Moderate (D1).

Drought in ELK, KANSAS
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The severe drought (D2), continued across the Flint Hills and Southeast Kansas during the first part of the month of July. This was a yearlong continuation of a drought that started in late May of 2012 and continued through the year into June 2012. Copious amounts of rainfall returned to the area by the end of the month, dropping the drought to Moderate (D1).

Drought in GREENWOOD, KANSAS
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The severe drought (D2), continued across the Flint Hills and Southeast Kansas during the first part of the month of July. This was a yearlong continuation of a drought that started in late May of 2012 and continued through the year into June 2012. Copious amounts of rainfall returned to the area by the end of the month, dropping the drought to Moderate (D1).

Drought in SEDGWICK, KANSAS
From 01-JUL-13 00:00:00 to 23-JUL-13 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The severe drought (D2), continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month of July. This was a yearlong continuation of a drought that started in late May of 2012 and continued through the year into June 2012. Copious amounts of rainfall returned to the area by the end of the month, dropping the drought to Moderate (D1). Wichita Mid Continent airport picked up almost 5 inches of rainfall during the last week of the month, pushing the rainfall for the month to almost 4 inches above normal.