An extended period of dry weather continued unabated across portions of Central and South Central Kansas during the month of August 2011, as most of the area saw below normal levels of precipitation and more triple digit heat continue to burn up the landscape. Some rainfall did fall during the beginning of the month which brought some relief, but overall rainfall was disappointing.
Every event with a place to put it; 23 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS ICT wrote it up.
An extended period of dry weather continued unabated across portions of Central and South Central Kansas during the month of August 2011, as most of the area saw below normal levels of precipitation and more triple digit heat continue to burn up the landscape. Some rainfall did fall during the beginning of the month which brought some relief, but overall rainfall was disappointing. Areas south and west of Wichita dried out even further during the second half of the month, keeping this area in an exceptional drought (D4), while others areas across Central Kansas pushed into an extreme drought (D3) by the end of the month. Other areas across the Flint Hills continued with a severe drought (D2) throughout the month. This is a continuation of the widespread drought that has been ongoing across the Plains for the entire summer of 2011.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 31, 10:55 PM CST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 1155 PM CDT SUN JUL 31 2011 .AVIATION...06Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE FORECAST PERIOD. EAST TO SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS ARE PRESENT AND WILL SLOWLY BECOME SOUTHERLY AFTER SUNRISE. SOME OF THE WINDS COULD BE GUSTY TO NEAR 20 KTS...BUT NOT EXPECTED TO BE OVERLY STRONG. UPPER LEVEL CONVECTIVE DEBRIS REMAINS ACROSS CENTRAL PLAINS...BUT SHOULD NOT IMPACT VFR STATUS. BILLINGS && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 651 PM CDT SUN JUL 31 2011/ AVIATION...00Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU MAIN AVIATION FORECAST CONCERN IS THE CHANCES FOR DIMINISHING THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE CONTINUED TO POP UP THIS EVENING...IMPACTING SOME OF THE TERMINALS. THIS ISOLATED DEVELOPMENT IS EXPECTED TO WANE AS THE SUN SETS. OVERNIGHT KSLN AND KRSL WILL HAVE EASTERLY TO SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS. WINDS WILL BECOME SOUTHERLY BY MORNING ACROSS THE AREA AS THE BOUNDARY LIFTS NORTH. BILLINGS PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 253 PM CDT SUN JUL 31 2011/ DISCUSSION... TONIGHT: ISOLD TSRA HAVE ONCE AGAIN POPPED THIS AFTERNOON...THIS TIME FURTHER N OVER PART OF CNTRL KS (MORE SPECIFICALLY RUSSELL & BARTON COUNTIES) AS SFC FRONT LIFTED SLOWLY N TO ALONG I-70 AT MID-DAY. IS ALSO CONCEIVABLE THAT ISOLD TSRA MAY POP OVER SE KS WHERE CAP IS SLIGHTLY WEAKER. BEING DIURNAL IN NATURE ANTICIPATE TSRA TO DISSIPATE BY ~10PM. MON-WED NGT: HIDEOUS HEAT BECOMES EVEN MORE SO AS STRONG(!) MASSIVE MID-UPR LVL HIGH SPREADS SLOWLY W & STRENGTHENS EVEN FURTHER AS UPR-DECK LOW MOVES SE ACROSS SRN QUEBEC. EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING (AND OH IS IT EXCESSIVE) WILL REACH PEAK TUE AFTERNOON WITH ALL OF SC & SE KS GET TORCHED BY ~110F HIGHS. THU-SUNDAY NGT: FOCUS IS STILL ON TSRA POTENTIAL AS MID-UPR WAVE SCOOTING E OVER THE NRN PLAINS DRAGS A COLD FRONT SE TOWARD CNTRL KS WED NGT & THU. COLD FRONT WILL NOT ADVANCE TOO FAR SE AS PARENT WAVE SURGES E ACROSS UPR MS VALLEY & GREAT LAKES THU & THU NGT BUT MAY BE ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO FORCE THE COLD FRONT TOWARD SC KS THU & THU NGT. AS SUCH EXTENDED 20-25% POPS FURTHER S OVER MOST OF SC KS FROM THU TIL FRI AROUND WHICH TIME THE FRONT SHOULD RETREAT N ACROSS NRN HALF OF KS. AVIATION...18Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU AFTER ISOLATED SHOWERS THIS MORNING...DAYTIME HEATING HAS DIMINISHED SOME OF THE CONVECTION. HOWEVER REDEVELOPMENT COULD OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON WITH SOME INSTABILITY IN THE AREA AND PRESENCE OF THE BOUNDARY. NOT OVERLY CONFIDENT IN CHANCES AND WITH ISOLATED NATURE THUS HAVE LEFT OUT ANY MENTION AT THIS TIME. BOUNDARY CONTINUES TO PERSIST IN RELATIVELY WEAK MANNER FROM CENTRAL INTO EASTERN KANSAS AND WESTERN MISSOURI. THIS BOUNDARY MAY PLAY GAMES WITH THE DIRECTIONAL COMPONENT TO THE WINDS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING BUT SHOULD CONTINUE TO REMAIN AROUND 5 TO 10 KTS THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF THE TAF PERIOD. VP && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WICHITA-KICT 80 107 80 111 / 20 10 0 10 HUTCHINSON 79 107 80 111 / 20 10 0 10 NEWTON 80 107 80 111 / 20 10 0 10 ELDORADO 77 107 80 110 / 20 10 0 10 WINFIELD-KWLD 81 107 80 110 / 20 10 0 10 RUSSELL 77 106 76 103 / 20 10 0 20 GREAT BEND 78 107 77 106 / 20 0 0 20 SALINA 79 107 79 108 / 20 10 0 10 MCPHERSON 80 107 80 109 / 20 10 0 10 COFFEYVILLE 80 106 80 109 / 20 10 0 10 CHANUTE 77 105 80 109 / 20 10 0 10 IOLA 77 105 80 109 / 20 10 0 10 PARSONS-KPPF 79 105 80 109 / 20 10 0 10 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR KSZ032-033- 047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 839 PM CDT SUN JUL 31 2011 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-020145- RUSSELL-LINCOLN-BARTON-ELLSWORTH-SALINE-RICE-MCPHERSON-MARION-CHASE- RENO-HARVEY-BUTLER-GREENWOOD-WOODSON-ALLEN-KINGMAN-SEDGWICK-HARPER- SUMNER-COWLEY-ELK-WILSON-NEOSHO-CHAUTAUQUA-MONTGOMERY-LABETTE- 839 PM CDT SUN JUL 31 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL KANSAS... SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY DANGEROUS HEAT INDICES WILL PLAGUE THE ENTIRE REGION EACH AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING FROM MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE REFER TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FOR DETAILS. THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MAY BE EXTENDED UNTIL LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON...ESPCIALLY IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS WHERE HEAT INDICES OF 105 TO 108 MAY OCCUR. WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER PRIMARILY CENTRAL KANSAS LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON...THEN SPREAD SLOWLY SOUTHEAST OVER ALL AREAS BY THURSDAY. CONTINUING THROUGH SATURDAY...THIS ACTIVITY MAY PRODUCE GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND LOCALLY VERY HEAVY RAINS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TONIGHT. && FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION...SEE OUR WEBPAGE AT (LOWERCASE) HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/WICHITA/HWO/HWO.PHP BILLINGS/ES
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
710 PM CDT SUN JUL 31 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0320 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 W CLEARWATER 37.51N 97.61W
07/31/2011 SEDGWICK KS PUBLIC
100 GALLON HORSE TANK THREE-QUARTERS FULL WAS BLOWN INTO
SHED DOORS, CAVING THEM IN. 20 BY 30 FOOT SHED DESTROYED.
REPORT RELAYED BY KSNW.
&&
KEDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
831 PM CDT SUN JUL 31 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0217 PM TSTM WND GST MILBERGER 38.72N 98.92W
07/31/2011 M66.00 MPH RUSSELL KS MESONET
0320 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 W CLEARWATER 37.51N 97.61W
07/31/2011 SEDGWICK KS PUBLIC
100 GALLON HORSE TANK THREE-QUARTERS FULL WAS BLOWN INTO
SHED DOORS, CAVING THEM IN. 20 BY 30 FOOT SHED DESTROYED.
REPORT RELAYED BY KSNW.
0340 PM TSTM WND GST 4 NNE CLEARWATER 37.56N 97.47W
07/31/2011 M56.00 MPH SEDGWICK KS MESONET
0501 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NE HUMBOLDT 37.82N 95.42W
07/31/2011 ALLEN KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEVERAL LARGE TREES DOWNED WITH SOME POWER LINES DOWN
ALSO.
0542 PM TSTM WND DMG HOLYROOD 38.59N 98.41W
07/31/2011 ELLSWORTH KS TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE LIMBS DOWNED.
0555 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SW HOLYROOD 38.57N 98.44W
07/31/2011 ELLSWORTH KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEMI-TRAILER BLOWN OFF HIGHWAY 156.
0557 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 S HOLYROOD 38.57N 98.41W
07/31/2011 ELLSWORTH KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
POWER LINES DOWNED.
0600 PM TSTM WND GST HOLYROOD 38.59N 98.41W
07/31/2011 M64.00 MPH ELLSWORTH KS TRAINED SPOTTER
0601 PM TSTM WND DMG HOLYROOD 38.59N 98.41W
07/31/2011 ELLSWORTH KS LAW ENFORCEMENT
NUMEROUS TREES DOWNED.
&&
KEDThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
23 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The moderate drought (D1) began to worsen across Southeast Kansas during the first part of the month and worsened to a severe drought (D2) by the middle of the month. The drought reached severe levels (D2) across the area during the week of August 23rd.
The drought began to worsen across Southeast Kansas during the first part of the month and worsened to a severe drought (D2). The drought reached severe levels (D2) across the area during the week of August 2nd, with some farmers had already chopping up their dry land corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions.
The drought began to worsen across Southeast Kansas during the first part of the month and worsened to a severe drought (D2). The drought reached severe levels (D2) across the area during the week of August 2nd, with some farmers had already chopping up their dry land corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions.
The drought began to worsen across Southeast Kansas during the first part of the month and worsened to a severe drought (D2). The drought reached severe levels (D2) across the area during the week of August 2nd, with some farmers had already chopping up their dry land corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions.
The severe drought (D2), continued across Southeast Kansas during the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July. Even with the drought, Fall River continued to flow, with this water being pumped into the water treatment plant and eventually into Neodesha homes, because of water releases from Fall River Reservoir.
The severe drought (D2), continued across Southeast Kansas during the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July.
The severe drought (D2), continued across Southeast Kansas during the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July.
The severe drought (D2), continued across Southeast Kansas during the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July.
The severe drought (D2), continued across South Central Kansas during the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in early July.
The severe drought (D2) began to worsen across Flint Hills and Southeast Kansas during the last part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of August. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of August 30th. The extreme drought led to lower lake levels and warmer water temperatures, which led to depleted oxygen levels, at area lakes and over a 100 dead fish in South Lubbock Lake.
The severe drought (D2) began to worsen across Central Kansas during the last part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of August. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of August 30th.
The severe drought (D2) began to worsen across Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of August. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of August 30th, with some farmers chopping up 50 percent of their dry land corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions.
The severe drought (D2) began to worsen across Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of August. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) across the area during the week of August 30th, with some farmers chopping up 50 percent of their dry land corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions.
The extreme drought (D3), continued across Central Kansas during the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late May and continued through the month of July, with some farmers having already chopped up their dry land corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions. The corn havest was expected to be down almost 15 percent, while the soybean crop was expected to down 28 percent.
The severe drought (D2), continued across Central Kansas during the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the months of June through July. Local farmers had already chopped up their dryland corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions.
The extreme drought (D3), continued across Central Kansas during the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the months of May, June and July. The drought began to affect the local livestock as well, as pond water supplies were low, which also led to little or no pasture grass for normal grazing. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to the poor pasture conditions.
The exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of August. The drought reached exceptional levels (D4) across the area during the week of July 19th. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the months of May, June and July. Farmers began to chop up their dryland corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them.
The exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the months of May, June and July. Farmers began to chop up their dryland corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them.
The exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the months of May, June and July. Farmers began to chop up their dryland corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them.
The exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of August. The drought reached exceptional levels (D4) across the area during the week of August 2nd. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the months of May, June and July. Farmers began to chop up their dryland corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them.
The exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of August. The drought reached exceptional levels (D4) across the area during the first week of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the months of May, June and July. Farmers began to chop up their dryland corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them.
The exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the months of May, June and July. Farmers continued to chop up their dryland corn crop into silage, with some farmers abandoning soybean crops. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them.
The exceptional drought (D4) continued across Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the months of May, June and July. Farmers had abandoned their dryland corn crop and chopped it up into silage. The USDA projects that corn and sorghum fields will produce their lowest yields since 1983. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, August 2011
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 344775, 344776, 344777, 344778, 344779, 344782, 344783, 344785, 344787, 344791, 344793, 344797, 344798, 344819, 344820, 344828, 344833, 344835, 344841, 344844, 344868, 344870, 344891.