According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, March marked the tenth consecutive month of severe (or worse) drought across this six-county portion of North Central Kansas.  This continued one of the worst droughts since the 1950s, as the majority of the area measured below normal March precipitation. Based on Drought Monitor weekly issuances, there was essentially no change in drought classification over the course of the month. At month's end, the vast majority of Phillips, Rooks, Smith and Osborne counties remained in category D3 extreme drought, while all of Jewell and Mitchell counties continued in somewhat less significant D2 severe drought. Based on reports from around 20 NWS cooperative observers, and also incorporating radar-derived estimation, roughly 70 percent of the area tallied below normal March precipitation (based on normals generally between 1.70-2.15). Overall, Rooks, Osborne and western Phillips counties were the driest portions of the area, as evidenced by cooperative observer sites at Webster Dam (0.51), Logan (0.55), four miles west-northwest of Plainville (0.84) and Natoma (0.88). The limited places that observed near to slightly above normal precipitation primarily concentrated in parts of Smith, Jewell and northern Mitchell counties, including totals of 2.23 at Smith Center, 2.01 at Jewell and 1.85 at Cawker City. Much of this precipitation fell between March 9th-10th, thanks to a combination of thunderstorms followed by generally 3-7 of snow and blizzard conditions. As for March snowfall, the majority of the six-county area tallied well above normal amounts between 5-10, highlighted by 11.6 at Burr Oak and 10 at Smith Center, Mankato, Ionia and Jewell.
Although severe to exceptional drought conditions remained firmly entrenched across North Central Kansas at the end of March, the past four months since December 2012 signaled an overall-encouraging trend, as most of the area tallied near to slightly above normal precipitation during that time, versus the solidly below normal values that defined much of the summer and fall of 2012. However, keeping optimism in check, December-March precipitation normally accounts for less than 15 percent of total annual precipitation. The Kansas USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report for the week ending March 31st indicated that topsoil moisture across the North Central District had improved over the past few months, now rating 30% short to very short and 68% adequate. However, subsoil moisture remained in worse shape, rating 83% short to very short. The state-averaged winter wheat crop checked in at 29% poor to very poor, 40% fair and only 31% good to excellent. State-averaged range and pasture conditions rated 79% poor to very poor, hay and forage supplies 74% short to very short and stock water supplies 67% short to very short.

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

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

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

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

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

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