A prolonged period of dry weather intensified the drought conditions across most of Kansas during the month of August. An unusually dry period from May through July combined with high temperatures soaring back above the century mark (100s) for the first part of the month, to push most of the region from an extreme drought (D3) into an exceptional drought (D4) by the end of the month of August.
Every event with a place to put it; 26 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.
A prolonged period of dry weather intensified the drought conditions across most of Kansas during the month of August. An unusually dry period from May through July combined with high temperatures soaring back above the century mark (100s) for the first part of the month, to push most of the region from an extreme drought (D3) into an exceptional drought (D4) by the end of the month of August. Most areas saw some rainfall towards the end of the month, which led to some gradual improvement over South Central Kansas.
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, 10:26 PM CST, 1 hour 34 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 1126 PM CDT TUE JUL 31 2012 && .AVIATION...06Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE ENTIRE TAF PERIOD WITH LIGHT EASTERLY TO SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS. ONLY CONCERN IS THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM OR TWO THAT MAY IMPACT THE AREA OVERNIGHT AS ACTIVITY ALONG THE CO/KS BORDER PUSHES EASTWARD. HAVE LEFT THIS OUT OF ALL SITES AT THIS TIME AS THE ISOLATED NATURE OF ANY STORMS WILL BE DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT BUT KRSL/KSLN AND POSSIBLY KHUT WOULD BE THE LIKELY CANDIDATES. SGS && PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 313 PM CDT TUE JUL 31 2012/ DISCUSSION... THIS EVENING-FRIDAY...WITH STATIONARY WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY/WIND SHIFT REMAINING IN PLACE...CANNOT RULE OUT ISOLATED HIT-AND-MISS AFTERNOON-EVENING THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY THROUGH FRIDAY. FOR THIS EVENING...THAT VERY SLIGHT CHANCE IS ALONG THE KS/OK BORDER. ADDITIONALLY...LIKE LAST NIGHT...OVERNIGHT THROUGH MID-MORNING SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY (GENERALLY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 10AM) WILL BE POSSIBLE...AS A FEW SEPARATE WEAK PIECES OF ENERGY PROGRESS SOUTHEAST FROM THE HIGH PLAINS. ALL-IN-ALL...NOT ANTICIPATING WIDESPREAD RAINS...ALTHOUGH A FEW LOCATIONS WILL SEE MODEST SHORT-TERM RELIEF FROM THE ISOLATED ACTIVITY. TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE WARMER WEDNESDAY AS CONVECTIVE DEBRIS SHOULDN'T BE AS WIDESPREAD AS TODAY. CONSEQUENTLY...WILL CONTINUE THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY. DESPITE LIKELY CONTINUED HOT TEMPERATURES THROUGH FRIDAY...UNCERTAINTY REGARDING EXACT LOCATION OF WOBBLING FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL PRECLUDE EXTENSION OF EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING PAST WEDNESDAY AT THIS TIME...ALTHOUGH LATER SHIFTS MAY END UP EXTENDING IT OVER SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH FRIDAY-SATURDAY. SATURDAY-TUESDAY...MEDIUM RANGE CONSENSUS AND ASSOCIATED GFS ENSEMBLES STRONGLY SUGGEST A RATHER STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PROGRESS SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION SATURDAY-SATURDAY NIGHT...ASSOCIATED WITH STRONG SHORTWAVE ENERGY DROPPING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS/UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. CONSEQUENTLY...THINKING THERE IS AT LEAST A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE AREA LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. HOWEVER...GIVEN BRUNT OF UPPER FORCING REMAINING WELL TO THE NORTH...NOT CONVINCED THE KS REGION WILL BE LOOKING AT WIDESPREAD APPRECIABLE PRECIPITATION...ALTHOUGH ACTIVITY SHOULD BE AT LEAST ISOLATED/WIDELY SCATTERED. BEST CHANCES LOOK TO BE THE NORTHERN HALF OF KS. IN WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT SATURDAY-SUNDAY...TEMPERATURES SHOULD COOL 5-10 DEGREES INTO THE MID/UPPER 90S TO NEAR 100 DEGREES. HOWEVER...MODEL CONSENSUS SUGGESTS THE UPPER RIDGE BUILDING BACK IN...RESULTING IN THE OPPRESSIVE HEAT LIKELY RETURNING BY EARLY-MID WEEK. KLEINSASSER AVIATION...18Z TAFS KRSL/KSLN/KHUT/KICT/KCNU VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO PREVAIL THRU THE FORECAST VALID PERIOD. A SURFACE FRONT WILL REMAIN QUASI-STATIONARY ACROSS THE AREA THRU WEDNESDAY. WINDS WILL GENERALLY BE LIGHT WITH A TENDENCY FOR AN EASTERLY COMPONENT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS. WHILE AN ISOLATED SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM IS POSSIBLE IT SHOULD HAVE LIMITED OR BRIEF IMPACT TO AVIATION. KED && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WICHITA-KICT 106 77 106 77 / 20 20 20 20 HUTCHINSON 104 76 104 76 / 20 20 20 20 NEWTON 101 76 103 76 / 20 20 20 20 ELDORADO 102 76 104 76 / 20 20 20 20 WINFIELD-KWLD 109 78 108 79 / 20 10 10 10 RUSSELL 101 75 103 75 / 20 20 20 20 GREAT BEND 101 76 103 76 / 20 20 20 20 SALINA 101 76 103 77 / 20 20 20 20 MCPHERSON 102 75 103 75 / 20 20 20 20 COFFEYVILLE 108 77 108 78 / 20 10 10 20 CHANUTE 101 75 104 76 / 20 20 20 20 IOLA 100 75 103 76 / 20 20 20 20 PARSONS-KPPF 106 76 106 76 / 20 10 20 20 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR KSZ069-070- 082-083-091>096-098>100. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS 522 PM CDT TUE JUL 31 2012 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-012230- 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- 522 PM CDT TUE JUL 31 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL KANSAS... SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT FOR LOCATIONS GENERALLY NORTH OF A KINGMAN TO WICHITA TO CHANUTE LINE. GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGEST OF THESE STORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY HEAT INDICES BETWEEN 100 AND 108 DEGREES ARE FORECAST EACH AFTERNOON FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...AND ON SATURDAY OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. CHECK THE LATEST EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FOR DETAILS. A COUPLE OF ROGUE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ACROSS THE AREA. GUSTY WINDS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP. A BETTER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. STRONG STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE. .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 EPS/ADK
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
26 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The extreme drought (D3), continued across South 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 and into August.
The extreme drought (D3), continued across South 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 and into August.
The extreme drought (D3), continued across South 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 and into August.
The extreme drought (D3), continued across South 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 and into August.
The extreme drought (D3), continued across South 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 and into August. Temperatures continued over the century mark for the first four days of the month. Rainfall amounts continued below normal for most of the month in Wichita, Kansas, but a two and half inch rainfall late in the month led to some improvement.
The extreme drought (D3), continued across South 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 and into August. Temperatures continued over the century mark for the first four days of the month. Rainfall amounts continued below normal for most of the month, but a two and half inch rainfall late in the month led to some improvement.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Central Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were almost one inch below normal. The lack of significant rainfall combined with days of maximum temperatures climbing above 100 degrees early in the month to scorch the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Central Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were almost one inch below normal. The lack of significant rainfall combined with days of maximum temperatures climbing above 100 degrees early in the month to scorch the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Central Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were almost one inch below normal. The lack of significant rainfall combined with days of maximum temperatures climbing above 100 degrees early in the month to scorch the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Central Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were almost one inch below normal. The lack of significant rainfall combined with days of maximum temperatures climbing above 100 degrees early in the month to scorch the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Central Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were almost one inch below normal. The lack of significant rainfall combined with days of maximum temperatures climbing above 100 degrees early in the month to scorch the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Central Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were almost one inch below normal. The lack of significant rainfall combined with days of maximum temperatures climbing above 100 degrees early in the month to scorch the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Central Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were almost one inch below normal. The lack of significant rainfall combined with days of maximum temperatures climbing above 100 degrees early in the month to scorch the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Central Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were almost one inch below normal. The lack of significant rainfall combined with days of maximum temperatures climbing above 100 degrees early in the month to scorch the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Central Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were almost one inch below normal. The lack of significant rainfall combined with days of maximum temperatures climbing above 100 degrees early in the month to scorch the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Central Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were almost one inch below normal. The lack of significant rainfall combined with days of maximum temperatures climbing above 100 degrees early in the month to scorch the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across the Flint Hills during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were almost one inch below normal. The lack of significant rainfall combined with days of maximum temperatures climbing above 100 degrees early in the month to scorch the crops and grasslands.
The extreme drought (D3), continued across Southeast Kansas and the Flint Hills during the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late May and continued through the month of July and into August.
The extreme drought (D3), continued across Southeast Kansas and the Flint Hills during the month of August. This was a continuation of a drought that started in late May and continued through the month of July and into August.
The extreme drought (D3), continued across Southeast 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 and into August.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Southeast Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were below normal. The lack of significant rainfall the past three months scorched the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Southeast Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were below normal. The lack of significant rainfall over the past three months scorched the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Southeast Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were below normal. The lack of significant rainfall the past three months scorched the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Southeast Kansas during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were below normal. The lack of significant rainfall the past three months scorched the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions continued during the month of August, with extreme drought (D3) across Southeast Kansas. Rainfall amounts were below normal. The lack of significant rainfall the past three months scorched the crops and grasslands.
Drought conditions began to worsen during the month of August, reaching exceptional drought (D4) across Southeast Kansas and the Flint Hills during the middle part of the month. Rainfall amounts were below normal. The lack of significant rainfall the past three months scorched the crops and grasslands.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, August 2012
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: 409770, 409771, 409772, 409773, 409774, 409775, 409778, 409779, 409781, 409782, 409784, 409786, 409787, 409788, 409792, 409799, 409812, 409823, 409828, 409830, 409891, 409894, 409897, 409898, 409901, 409902.