According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, July 2013 marked the 15th consecutive month of D1 Moderate (or worse) drought within this six-county portion of North Central Kansas, continuing one of the most notable droughts since the 1950s. Precipitation trends during July were a mixed bag across the area, with roughly an even-split between above and below normal rainfall, but with nearly all places receiving at least 1.50. That being said, Phillips County continued to dry out more than any other county in the area, enduring its 5th-consecutive month of below normal precipitation. On a positive note, July temperatures averaged a few degrees cooler than normal...in sharp contrast to the notably hot and dry July 2012 one year ago that put considerable stress on crops. All factors considered, much of this six-county area actually realized a one-category improvement in official drought classification during July according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, although a noticeable west-east disparity remained. In the west, most of Phillips and a decent chunk of Rooks counties remained in D3 Extreme Drought at month's end, with a sliver of D4 Exceptional Drought (the worst-possible category) still clipping western Phillips County. Farther east, most of Smith, Osborne and Jewell counties were a mix of D1 Moderate and D2 Severe drought, although southeast Osborne County had improved to D0 Abnormally Dry (one category better than true drought). Mitchell County remained in the overall best-shape, featuring almost exclusively the D0 category. Reports from around 20 NWS cooperative observers, and also incorporating radar-derived estimation, confirmed the fairly even-split between above and below normal rainfall across the area (based on normals generally between 3.60-4.15 inches). Mitchell and Osborne counties were the overall-wettest in the area, while Phillips, Smith and northern Jewell were the overall driest. Per NWS cooperative observers, a few of the lowest July rainfall totals were 1.68 one mile north of Long Island, 1.89 at Lebanon and 2.16 at Phillipsburg. On the noticeably wetter side of things were locations such as Cawker City (8.54), Beloit (7.22) and Jewell (5.29). In between these wettest and driest extremes, much of the area tallied July totals between 2.50-4.50, including stations in or near Plainville, Smith Center, Burr Oak and Natoma.
Focusing on the longer-range picture of year-to-date precipitation (January 1-July 24), most of the six-county area only stood 51-92% of normal, with Phillips County clearly the overall-driest, including only 51% of normal at both Logan and Phillipsburg. In contrast, Mitchell County remained the overall-wettest, featuring 112% of normal at Beloit. The USDA Kansas Crop Progress and Condition Report for the week ending July 21st indicated that dryland crops and pastures continued to suffer, especially in western portions of the state. Within the north central district, topsoil moisture rated 74% short to very short and only 25% adequate, a considerable decline versus values of 31% and 65%, respectively, in early June. Subsoil moisture supplies in the north central counties had also degraded over the past several weeks, now rating 71% short to very short versus 59% previously. The state-averaged corn crop rated 30% poor to very poor, but also 31% good to excellent. Soybeans rated 41% good to excellent and only 13% poor to very poor. State-averaged range and pasture conditions rated 55% poor to very poor, a degradation from 45% in early June. Stock water supplies checked in 42% short to very short, a 7% degradation over the past six weeks.

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

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

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

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

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

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