Drought in Kansas, September 1 to 30, 2011

Name: Drought in Kansas, September 1 to 30, 2011
Start: 2011-09-01T00:00
End: 2011-09-30T23:59
Location: Kansas

September 1 to 30, 2011 · NWS ICT · 23 events in 21 counties and zones

Where it happened

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.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: $2.4 million
Events: 23

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.

What happened

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 September 2011, as most of the area saw below normal levels of precipitation and even saw a few more triple digit temperatures for the beginning of the month. Some rainfall did fall during the middle of the month which brought some relief, but overall rainfall was disappointing, with most areas seeing rainfall amounts two inches below normal. Areas south and west of Wichita continued to remain very dry, keeping this area in an exceptional drought (D4), while others areas across Central Kansas remain in an extreme drought (D3). 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 on going across the Plains for the entire summer of 2011.

What forecasters said that day

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 Aug 31, 11:09 PM CST, 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 11:09 PM CST, 51 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
1209 AM CDT THU SEP 1 2011

.AVIATION...06Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU
THE MAIN AVIATION FORECAST CONCERN CONTINUES TO THE GUSTY SOUTH TO
SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS FOR THURSDAY.

LITTLE IF ANYTHING HAS CHANGED FROM THE 00Z DISCUSSION. VFR
CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO PREVAIL THROUGH THE FORECAST. GUSTY WINDS
AFTER DAYBREAK AND CONTINUING THROUGH SUNSET TOMORROW EVENING.
SUSTAINED SPEEDS WILL BE 15-20 KTS WITH GUSTS NEAR 25 KTS.

BILLINGS

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 637 PM CDT WED AUG 31 2011/

AVIATION...00Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU
MAIN AVIATION FORECAST CONCERN IS THE GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWESTERLY
WINDS FOR THURSDAY.

VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST THROUGH THE FORECAST
PERIOD. WINDS WILL DECREASE AS MIXING SUBSIDES AT SUNSET...BUT
THEY WILL INCREASE AS THE SUN RISES THURSDAY MORNING. EXPECT SOUTH
TO SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS TO BE 15 TO 20 KTS SUSTAINED WITH GUSTS TO
NEAR 25 KTS OR SLIGHTLY GREATER.

BILLINGS

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 240 PM CDT WED AUG 31 2011/

DISCUSSION...
ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS MUCH OF
THE AREA THROUGH SATURDAY BEFORE A COLD FRONT BRINGS WELCOME RELIEF.

TONIGHT-THURSDAY...THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE CONTINUES TO SPRAWL ACROSS
THE SOUTHERN CONUS WHILE LIGHT SOUTHWEST WINDS ADVECT DRIER AIR FROM
THE SOUTHERN PLAINS INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS STATES. THIS HAS
RESULTED IN NOON TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 90S. FURTHER SOUTH AND
WEST ACROSS OKLAHOMA...TEMPERATURES EXCEEDED THE CENTURY MARK AT
MANY LOCATIONS BEFORE NOON. ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS/SPRINKLES
WITHIN AN AREA OF WEAK 320K ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE OVER WEST CENTRAL
KANSAS CONTINUE TO MOVE SLOWLY EASTWARD...HOWEVER THIS ACTIVITY IS
NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE ORGANIZED AS THE AREA OF
UPGLIDE/POSITIVE BUOYANCY IS PROGGED TO DIMINISH AND LIFT NORTH OF
THE AREA. ANOTHER HOT DAY IS ON TAP FOR THURSDAY WITH VERY LITTLE
CHANGE ON THE LARGE SCALE. SOUTHWEST WINDS ARE PROGGED TO INCREASE
INTO THE 15 TO 25 KNOT RANGE WITH GUSTS INTO THE UPPER 20S. A
CAPPING INVERSION SHOULD INHIBIT DEEP MOIST CONVECTION ONCE AGAIN.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY...A SERIES OF SHORTWAVE TROUGHS ARE PROGGED TO MOVE
OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS THROUGH THE PERIOD WHILE A COLD FRONT
BISECTS THE CENTRAL PLAINS STATES. THIS FRONT MAY PROVIDE A FOCUS
FOR DEEP MOIST CONVECTION ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL KANSAS AND
MAINTAINED LOW POPS FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. THE FRONT MAY BECOME
STATIONARY INITIALLY BEFORE ANOTHER SHORTWAVE TROUGH ALLOWS THE
FRONT TO SURGE SOUTH LATE IN THE DAY ON SATURDAY. MAXIMUM
TEMPERATURES WERE RAISED TO AROUND 100 DEGREES ACROSS PORTIONS OF
SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS WHERE THE FRONT MAY NOT ARRIVE
UNTIL LATER IN THE DAY.

SUNDAY-WEDNESDAY...A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS MAY BE ONGOING ACROSS
SOUTHERN KANSAS EARLY IN THE PERIOD...HOWEVER THE GENERAL THEME
THROUGH THE EXTENDED PERIODS WILL BE SEASONABLY COOL TEMPERATURES
WITH DRY WEATHER ANTICIPATED. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL USHER IN A
DRY CONTINENTAL AIRMASS EARLY IN THE WEEK WITH TEMPERATURES SLOWLY
MODERATING TO SEASONABLE NORMALS TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

MWM

FIRE WEATHER...
CRITICAL/NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS
THE AREA ON THURSDAY AS BREEZY SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 20 KNOTS GUSTING
TO AROUND 30 KNOTS COMBINE WITH HIGHS IN THE 103-107 DEGREE RANGE
RESULTING IN MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FALLING INTO THE TEENS.

MWM

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
WICHITA-KICT    78 107  76 104 /  10  10  10  10
HUTCHINSON      77 107  76 102 /  10  10  10  10
NEWTON          77 106  76 103 /  10  10  10  10
ELDORADO        75 107  75 103 /  10  10  10  10
WINFIELD-KWLD   78 107  76 104 /  10  10  10  10
RUSSELL         73 107  74  91 /  10  10  10  20
GREAT BEND      74 107  75  96 /  10  10  10  20
SALINA          77 106  76  97 /  10  10  10  20
MCPHERSON       77 106  76 101 /  10  10  10  20
COFFEYVILLE     78 104  77 102 /  10  10  10  10
CHANUTE         77 104  76 103 /  10  10  10  10
IOLA            77 104  76 103 /  10  10  10  10
PARSONS-KPPF    77 104  76 103 /  10  10  10  10

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 31, 7:58 PM CST, 4 hours 2 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
858 PM CDT WED AUG 31 2011

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-020200-
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-
858 PM CDT WED AUG 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...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

HEAT INDICES WILL REMAIN IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS OVER MOST OF THE
AREA THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE HIGHEST HEAT INDICES MAY APPROACH 105
DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. THE BREEZY...HOT AND
DRY CONDITIONS WILL ALSO LEAD TO A VERY HIGH GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER
ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO IN THE FORECAST FOR FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
NIGHT. SOME STRONG OR POSSIBLY SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT...WITH THE BEST CHANCES DURING THE
LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING ON BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

.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

MWM/BILLINGS

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Harper

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Harper forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.192, -98.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The exceptional drought (D4) continued across South Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of September. 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 Summer into August and September. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months.

Drought, Kingman

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kingman forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.559, -98.136 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Sumner

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Sumner forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Sedgwick

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Sedgwick forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.685, -97.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Reno

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Reno forecast zone
Crop damage: $200,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.953, -98.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Harvey

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Harvey forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 38.043, -97.427 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Rice

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Rice forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 38.347, -98.201 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Barton

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Barton forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 38.479, -98.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The extreme drought (D3) continued across Central Kansas during the first part of the month and lasted the rest of the month of September. The drought reached extreme levels (D3) 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 summer months into August and September. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them. The Hutchinson News reported that some livestock producers bailed corn stalks to supply their cattle feeding operations.

Drought, McPherson

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: McPherson forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 38.392, -97.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Cowley

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cowley forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.238, -96.837 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The severe drought (D2), continued across South Central Kansas during the month of September. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Local grain elevators took in only half as much grain as it did in a normal year, due to the drought.

Drought, Chautauqua

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Chautauqua forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.150, -96.245 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The severe drought (D2), continued across Southeast Kansas during the month of September. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Local grain elevators reported received only half as much grain as it does in a normal year, due to the drought.

Drought, Elk

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Elk forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.454, -96.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Montgomery

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Montgomery forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.193, -95.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The severe drought (D2), continued across Southeast Kansas during the month of September. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Local grain elevators took in only half as much grain as it did in a normal year, due to the drought.

Drought, Wilson

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Wilson forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.559, -95.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The severe drought (D2), continued across Southeast Kansas during the month of September. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Local grain elevators took in only half as much grain as it did in a normal year, due to the drought.

Drought, Woodson

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Woodson forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.887, -95.740 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The severe drought (D2), continued across Southeast Kansas during the month of September. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Local grain elevators took in only half as much grain as it did in a normal year, due to the drought.

Drought, Allen

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Allen forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.886, -95.301 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The severe drought (D2), continued across Southeast Kansas during the month of September. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Local grain elevators took in only half as much grain as it did in a normal year, due to the drought.

Drought, Neosho

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Neosho forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.559, -95.307 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The severe drought (D2), continued across Southeast Kansas during the month of September. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Local grain elevators took in only half as much grain as it did in a normal year, due to the drought.

Drought, Labette

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Labette forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.191, -95.298 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The severe drought (D2), continued across Southeast Kansas during the month of September. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late July. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions with little or no hay to feed them. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Local grain elevators took in only half as much grain as it did in a normal year, due to the drought.

Drought, Allen

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Allen forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.886, -95.301 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The severe drought (D2), continued across Central Kansas during the month of September. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer months of July and August. Farmers near Sterling had already chopped up their dryland corn crop into silage. Local cattle farmers had sold most of their cattle due to poor pasture conditions. Due to the high demand, hay prices almost doubled in the past 12 months. Local grain elevators took in only half as much grain as it does in a normal year, due to the drought.

Drought, Butler

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.781, -96.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The extreme drought (D3) actually improved some during the middle of the month of September, to a Severe drought (D2), as some areas received some much needed rainfall. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late April and continued through the summer months of July and August. Farmers chopped 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.

Drought, Greenwood

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Greenwood forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.878, -96.233 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Allen

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Allen forecast zone
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 37.886, -95.301 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Marion

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 38.359, -97.097 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, September 2011

Sources

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: 348212, 348213, 348214, 348215, 348216, 348217, 348218, 348220, 348221, 348223, 348224, 348226, 348227, 348228, 348229, 348230, 348231, 348232, 348248, 348251, 348252, 348254, 348255.